Edwards backs Idowu decision to withdraw
FORMER Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards has defended the decision of London 2012 medal hope Phillips Idowu to withdraw from the weekend’s Aviva London Grand Prix and argued he also would not have wished to compete.
Concerns remain over triple jumper Idowu’s physical condition given that he has participated in competitions just three times this year and withdrew only 25 minutes before events began at Crystal Palace because of what he called a “slight bit of muscle tightness”.
Edwards witnessed the wet conditions that may also have deterred Idowu and admitted that, particularly with the Olympics so close, he too would have withdrawn had he still been competing.
“When I turned up at the track this morning, I asked myself ‘Would I have wanted to jump today?’ and the answer was no,” said Edwards, the one-time world record holder.
“Phillips probably didn’t fancy it, but there is nothing to worry about. It’s cold, damp and he doesn’t want to take any risks. We will forgive him everything if he jumps well in London.”