by Stuart WeirI have always enjoyed Greg Rutherford. I first saw him compete, in person, at the FBK Games in 2011, I believe.
Greg Rutherford has a well developed sense of humor. His presser with Valerie Adams at the Birmingham DL in 2015 was iconic! They were hysterical, as both were trying to educate some media on their events.
Greg Rutherford thanking Coach Dan Pfaff, London 2012, photo by British Athletics
Greg Rutherford is a competitor. He could compete on the day, in difficult conditions, when athletes with longer PBs just did not deliver in major championships. Greg won the London Olympics in 2012, the European Championships in 2014, and the WC in 2015, taking gold in all 4. In Rio, Greg took the bronze in LJ. He is the Rodney Dangerfield of the long jump. Greg saw the humor, but it had to irk him. Rutherford is one of the finest long jumpers in Team GB history, and his medals came from performing better than anyone else on the right day at the right time.
Greg Rutherford with his fans, 2018 Birmingham DL, photo by Diamond League AG
Greg Rutherford now has made the Team GBR bob sled squad. Using the speed and strength he developed in the long jump, Greg Rutherford will do quite well in this event.
This is Stuart Weir’s piece on Greg and his taking a new challenge.
Greg Rutherford, former Olympic long jump champion has been named in Great Britain bobsleigh squad, which could ultimately lead to an appearance at for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. Rutherford won gold on ‘Super Saturday’ at the London Olympics in 2012 and took bronze four years later in Rio. Following the London Olympics he won the European and Commonwealth titles in 2014 and the World Championship in 2015, uniquely holding all four titles simultaneously.
Greg Rutherford, London 2012 champ, Zurich 2014 Champ, Glasgow 2014 Champ, and Beijing 2015 champ in the LJ! photo courtesy of Eurosport.com
His press conferences were never dull. He was really frustrated that his Olympic gold medal did not bring a flood of sponsorship offers and that he never seemed to get the credit he deserved. His first words to the media after winning the 2014 European title were, “I seem to have fluked another one!” I always found him friendly and helpful. He was working for Eurosport at the Tokyo Olympics and I had several conversations with him.
The always charming Greg Rutherford, Birmingham DL 2018, photo by Diamond League AG
After training for bobsleigh since April, he has been selected for GB in the four-man event. The next task is to secure Olympic qualification, which will be determined by their performance in seven qualifying events, with the first event taking place in Austria in November.
Greg Rutherford, Birmingham 2018 DL, photo by Diamond League AG
Rutherford wrote on Instagram: “”This has been a huge undertaking, going from a very retired former athlete to retraining in a new sport. A massive thank you to everyone who has helped thus far.We start competing in a couple of months time with the medal dream very much alive”.
