Olympics: Britain’s triple jump champ in injury setback

Britain’s former world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu suffered a worrying injury setback just five weeks from the start of the Olympics on Friday when he limped out of the national trials.

The 33-year-old, who had been due to take part in the trials in Birmingham this weekend, has competed just three times this year and picked up an unspecified injury at the Oregon Diamond League meeting on June 2.

Before his trip to the United States, he had produced winning leaps of 17.24m and 17.31m in Shanghai and Hengelo respectively.

By not competing at the trials, Idowu will have to rely on a discretionary place on the team.

“It’s not a worry. He is selectable,” said UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee.