Phillips Idowu insists his gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin is just the start.

Idowu’s third-round leap of 17.73m, the best in the world this year, saw him reverse the one-two at last summer’s Beijing Olympics, when he was pipped by Portugal’s Nelson Evora.

The Belgrave Harriers star was also beaten by Evora at the European Team Championship in Portugal in June.

But with Evora unable to improve on his best of 17.55, Idowu was able to take gold, despite declining to take his sixth and final attempt.

“It has been a long time coming,” said Idowu.

“I was waiting for someone to come back. I knew this was my time.

“I was pretty nervous. I was having some pretty crazy dreams – I knew I had something inside me. I knew I was going to win.

“I woke up this morning and it was horrible weather and I have been jumping in those kind of conditions all year.

“Even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have taken that last round jump.

“I have worked hard. Last year was a big disappointment, but I have come through that.

“I have improved and have got a world championship gold medal.”

Idowu paid tribute to his coach, Aston Moore, for sticking by him through his ups and downs.

“He has been there and always told me I am a great athlete,” added Idowu.

“Even though I have got a gold medal now I still know there is more in there.”

Clubmate Dwain Chambers clocked a season’s best of 10.00 in the 100m final, finishing sixth behind Jamaican Usain Bolt’s outstanding world record win of 9.58.

“That was an amazing experience to be part of,” he said.

Belgrave’s Goldie Sayers, who finished fourth in the javelin at the Beijing Olympics, failed to reach the final – managing 58.98m in the qualifying round.

She has struggled with a spinal injury this year and Berlin was only her third competition of 2009.

“I am annoyed with myself. It just wasn’t good enough, to be honest,” she said.

“I slipped with my left foot in the first round and lost my confidence.

“I felt great but it has been one of those years.”