Idowu gold medal boost after champ Evora injured
BRITISH triple-jump star Phillips Idowu’s hopes of claiming gold at London 2012 have received a boost after reigning Olympic champion Nelson Evora was ruled out.
Portuguese Evora, who beat Idowu into silver medal position in Beijing four years ago, suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture on his right shinbone while training.
“Given the necessary recovery time, it is out of the question to take part in the next Olympic Games,” said Evora. “But don’t anyone think this injury means that I’m finished. I have a lot of competitions ahead of me.” Idowu, a former world champion and one of Team GB’s strongest medal hopes at this summer’s sporting extravaganza, played down the development.
“Nelson Evora’s injury is in no way good news for me,” the Londoner wrote on Twitter. “I want to compete and win against the best. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Evora is the second of Idowu’s main rivals to suffer a setback in the run-up to London 2012.
France’s Teddy Tamgho, the world indoor champion, is currently serving a six-month ban for an altercation with a female athlete last year but is eligible to return in time to compete at the Games.