Rutherford could yet make Commonwealth Games appearance after claiming indoor title
BySportsbeat
Published 18/02/2018 at 13:11 GMT
Two-time Olympic medallist Greg Rutherford could make a sensational U-turn on whether to compete for the England team at the Commonwealth Games having previously ruled himself out.
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Rutherford was victorious at the British Indoor Championships in Birmingham yesterday as he returned to action after competing just three times last year following groin and ankle operations.
The 31-year-old jumped 7.80 metres at the Arena Birmingham and claimed that he will decide whether to re-join the England team after next weekend’s Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow.
"If they are still willing to put me in, I'll feel through Glasgow and I'll push it on a bit within the next week," said Rutherford.
"If all goes well, then why not?"
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist was delighted with his performance on Saturday but was terrified by his lack of training.
"I only put spikes on one month ago so it means a lot to do all six rounds," he said.
"When I had the ankle surgery, the doctors said there was no chance I would be able to jump by the indoors, yet here I am.
"I was terrified about this competition. Genuinely terrified. Last night I was lying in my bed in the hotel thinking I don’t know if I can do it.
"It feels like such a long time and so much has happened since I jumped. You get a lot of doubt coming in.
"So to do that, I am genuinely thrilled. If I had jumped six metres I would probably be crying and announcing my retirement, but it’s near enough to eight metres for me to think I can still do it."
The 2018 World Indoors will also be held in Birmingham at the same venue next month and it is the only global title Rutherford is yet to win.
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