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Greg Rutherford ready for the jump into a new career as Olympic hero prepares for Muller Anniversary Games farewell

Greg Rutherford: Reuters
Greg Rutherford: Reuters

It is not the goodbye that Greg Rutherford had planned, his intention always having been to bow out on his terms at the top of the sport.

But an ankle injury which makes even playing with his two young boys painful means it could be a hobbling farewell to the London Stadium for the long jump star at the Muller Anniversary Games this weekend.

With his partner Susie and sons Milo and Rex in the stands not to mention other family and friends, the 31-year-old will not hold back the waterworks.

“I’ve always been quite emotional but it’s got 10 times worse since having kids, so it’s going to be a very special and teary Anniversary Games for me immaterial of the outcome,” said the man who has won Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth gold medals.

(Getty)
(Getty)

“I think this is the first competition that Rex will have been to. I know he won’t have a clue what’s going on but it’s going to be emotional to say goodbye to the London Stadium.”

It is a venue that will forever define him, the scene of his biggest triumph when he won Olympic gold at London 2012.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Now, he merely has aspirations to jump eight metres in the hope that he is in good enough shape to travel to Berlin for next month’s European Championships. Even if he withdraws from selection for that, he still plans to jump in Birmingham and Newcastle before his official retirement.

While it has been tricky for the competitor in him, he has gradually come to terms with the fact that the body will no longer allow him to jump as he has in the past.

“I’m just in a different place to previous years,” he said. “I know I’m not at my best and haven’t been for a while but I’m starting to accept that now.

(Ian Walton/Getty Images)
(Ian Walton/Getty Images)

“It’s frustrating but European jumping is not quite as big as the world stage at the moment so, if I can get eight metres at the weekend, then Berlin becomes realistic. But I’ll only go there if I think I can compete for a medal.”

Rutherford is no stranger to injury — in terms of hamstrings alone, he has lost count of the number of tears he has suffered — but the pain in his ankle has got to a point that waking up every morning suffering is no longer worth it. “I wanted to retire 100 per cent on my own terms,” he said, “and maybe I can still do that but my body might have other ideas.”

(Matt Dunham/AP)
(Matt Dunham/AP)

As for what the future holds, Rutherford is not entirely clear. He has skirted with the idea of a switch to cycling, while punditry also appeals. But he also has a passion to help push forward athletics. “People know I’m outspoken and often to the detriment of my career,” he said, “but I’m happy to speak out to push athletics forwards.

“Take the Athletics World Cup, I loved that in it was an attempt to bring forward new ideas. But too often, athletics is too old fashioned. We need to make it more fun and make it change with the world today. I don’t have a masterplan to fix things overnight but after the jumping’s done it’s something I want to be involved in.”

First, though, is the long goodbye.

Competing: Greg Rutherford will join Strictly Come Dancing fresh from the Rio Olympics (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty)
Competing: Greg Rutherford will join Strictly Come Dancing fresh from the Rio Olympics (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty)

The Muller Anniversary Games will feature the world’s biggest athletics stars at the London Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets via britishathletics.org.uk and at the London Stadium ticket office

Five events not to miss this weekend

Women’s long jump | Saturday, 2.30pm

Lorraine Ugen boasts the world’s furthest jump in 2018 with 7.05m. Her British rivals are Shara Proctor — who is another seven-metre jumper — and Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jazmin Sawyers.

Men’s 100m | Saturday, 3.50pm

Nine of the athletes in the day’s earlier heats have run under 10s this season, including Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. But he faces stiff competition from an American contingent including Christian Coleman, Ronnie Baker, Cameron Burrell and Isiah Young.

Women’s 200m | Sunday, 3.29pm

For Dina Asher-Smith, this is her first time over the longer distance since the Commonwealth Games. The field includes Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, two-time world champion Dafne Schippers and the second fastest woman this year, Shericka Jackson.

Women’s 100m hurdles | Sunday, 3.39pm

It is two years since Kendra Harrison, having missed out on a place at the Olympics, came to the London Stadium and set a world record of 12.20sec. There is no shortage of fellow Americans to push her: Queen Harrison, Brianna McNeal and Sharika Nelvis.

Millicent Fawcett Mile | Sunday, 3.49pm

It is a rare outing for the world’s fastest middle-distance women over the mile course. Laura Muir (above) will hope to win the last event of the weekend, but Sifan Hassan, Nelly Jepkosgei, Hellen Obiri and Jenny Simpson will have different ideas.