Phillips Idowu
Born on 30th of November 1978
As a young man, Hackney born Phillips Idowu was a talented basketball and American football player. But his big build also made him a potentially powerful triple jumper. At Raines Foundation School in Bethnal Green, his PE teacher encouraged him to try triple jump and he quickly demonstrated his prowess in the discipline.
Phillips Idowu claimed fourth in the 1997 European Junior Championships and won the English Schools' and AAA under-20 titles that year too. Two years later he won gold at the AAA U23 and was soon building on those results with the elevation into the ranks of world's top 10 triple jumpers in 2000.
2000 was his breakthrough year when he won the trials and qualified for the Olympic final in Sydney with 17.12 which at the time was a personal best. He ended up in sixth place in the event which was won by Jonathan Edwards.
He won the 2001 European Cup with 17.23 but he failed to find his best form World Championships in Edmonton. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games he came away with a silver medal in a final once again won by world record holder Jonathan Edwards. A knee operation early in 2003 ruled him out for the season.
At Athens 2004 he reached the final again but sadly produced three no jumps.
Idowu is a flambouyant character and a fan of various and unusual hair colours. One of the most colourful characters on the circuit, Idowu he has enjoyed long standing rivalry with Jonathan Edwards and also more recently Nathan Douglas.
Phillips Idowu was selected to compete in the triple jump discipline for the Great Britain team at the 2008 Olympics held at Beijing, China.
Idowu is a member of the Belgrave Harriers and he is presently coached by Aston Moore.
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