GREG TAKES LONG JUMP INTO NEW SPORT – CYCLING
ATHLETICS
GREG RUTHERFORD has ended his career as Britain’s greatest long jumper – and switched to track cycling.
Rutherford, 31, is one of only five GB athletes to hold all four major titles at the same time.
But ahead of an Olympic Stadium farewell tomorrow he revealed more about his new plans.
Rutherford said: “I’m not saying I’m going to move to track cycling and become best in the world. I’m going to attempt it.
“I asked what sort of wattage a decent cyclist would put out, went to the gym, got on the wattbike and did it and more.
“So there’s the basics to do well but I’ve never been on a road bike or in a velodrome – except to compete in a long jump competition in Vienna.”
Rutherford took inspiration from Rebecca Romero, who went from Olympic silver in rowing to track cycling gold in Beijing four years later.
Lizzy Yarnold also transformed herself from heptathlete to two-time Olympic skeleton champion. Rutherford, who held the Olympic, European, Commonwealth and world titles in 2015, said: “I’ve zero reference points to say I’ll be good at track cycling but I do have the raw ability to potentially be successful.
“I’ve a lot of ability within my body to do things. It can produce an awful lot of power. Maybe I should have been a cyclist and not a long jumper. We’re going to find out.”
Rutherford tried skeleton in 2014 and had talks with British Bobsleigh before a recent injury derailed that plan.
He said: “Changing sports is something we shouldn’t fear. I might be terrible, I don’t know but I’m going to try.”
Before then is the long jump competition at the scene of his golden moment at London 2012.
Rutherford hasn’t given up hope of defending his European crown in Berlin next month but added: “This time I’m going to try to give back to the crowd, take as many selfies as I can and sign as many autographs as I can.”