Idowu vows to continue despite exit (From Your Local Guardian)

Idowu vows to continue despite exit

1:24pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Britain's Phillips Idowu insisted retirement was not on the agenda, despite failing to make it through in triple jump qualifying at the Olympics.

The 33-year-old east London athlete, who is suffering from a trapped nerve, could only manage a best jump of 16.53 metres as he failed to finish in the top 12. The Beijing silver medallist produced a first-round jump of 16.47m and, after fouling in the second, went further with his third, but it was not far enough.

Idowu ended up in 14th place, nine centimetres off 12th, and admitted the disappointment had "not sunk in". He said: "I struggled with some nervy pains and hadn't been 100%, but I always felt that if I was able to come here and be pain free I should be able to replicate what I've done in previous years."

He went on: "My main goal was to be able to be here and be pain free and if I was I felt like the calibre of athlete I am and being such a big occasion that I would be able to pull something special out of the bag. But the timing just wasn't there for me.

"My preparation went well. I've been training every day and working hard. My strength levels and speed are great and I have been able to jump in training so with all of that I felt I was able to come out and put on a decent show but it just wasn't to happen."