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Olympic champion Greg Rutherford plans back garden long jump event | Olympic champion Greg Rutherford plans back garden long jump event |
(3 days later) | |
Olympic champion Greg Rutherford is planning to host a long jump competition for some of the world's top athletes - in his back garden. | Olympic champion Greg Rutherford is planning to host a long jump competition for some of the world's top athletes - in his back garden. |
Rutherford has a long jump runway and pit at his home in Woburn Sands near Milton Keynes. | Rutherford has a long jump runway and pit at his home in Woburn Sands near Milton Keynes. |
"I think I will actually have an exceptionally good field of jumpers, better than a Diamond League meeting to be honest," he said. | "I think I will actually have an exceptionally good field of jumpers, better than a Diamond League meeting to be honest," he said. |
He said Australian long jumper Mitchell Watt was among the interested parties. | He said Australian long jumper Mitchell Watt was among the interested parties. |
Rutherford, who won gold to Watt's silver at London 2012, built the runway and pit with help from his father. | Rutherford, who won gold to Watt's silver at London 2012, built the runway and pit with help from his father. |
'Party in the garden' | 'Party in the garden' |
The plan is to host the event in September, after the Rio Olympics. | The plan is to host the event in September, after the Rio Olympics. |
"We are going to get a grandstand for maybe 50 or 100 people, put it right next to the runway pit and after have a party in the garden," said Rutherford. | "We are going to get a grandstand for maybe 50 or 100 people, put it right next to the runway pit and after have a party in the garden," said Rutherford. |
"I want to get funding behind it so the athletes can be paid - I can create something that I feel the rest of the sport isn't doing." | "I want to get funding behind it so the athletes can be paid - I can create something that I feel the rest of the sport isn't doing." |
Rutherford said Olympic and World Championships triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor (USA) and World Championships long jump silver medallist Christian Lapierre had also expressed an interest in competing. | Rutherford said Olympic and World Championships triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor (USA) and World Championships long jump silver medallist Christian Lapierre had also expressed an interest in competing. |
Speaking ahead of Friday evening's Great City Games street athletics event in Manchester, Rutherford joked that Carl Lewis, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic gold medallist, would probably not be invited. | Speaking ahead of Friday evening's Great City Games street athletics event in Manchester, Rutherford joked that Carl Lewis, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic gold medallist, would probably not be invited. |
"I don't think I'd want Carl anywhere near my house to be honest," he said. | "I don't think I'd want Carl anywhere near my house to be honest," he said. |
Lewis, along with world record holder Mike Powell, has been critical of the current state of long jumping. | Lewis, along with world record holder Mike Powell, has been critical of the current state of long jumping. |
"If him and Carl want to come back, I'll welcome them all back. I'll happily scalp them," said Rutherford. | "If him and Carl want to come back, I'll welcome them all back. I'll happily scalp them," said Rutherford. |
A British Athletics spokesman said: "Should the long jump pit meet official competition standards, this could be something British Athletics would look to support." |
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