Rutherford expects to be ‘crying more than jumping’ this weekend
Greg Rutherford admits the Anniversary Games will make or break the fairytale finish to his athletics career.
The 2012 Olympic long jump champion will retire at the end of the summer but he still has a slim chance of making it to the European Championships, which will be held in Berlin next month.
He was given a medical exemption for the British trials last month and, as defending champion, can still be selected by Great Britain when the squad is announced on Wednesday.
But Rutherford’s hopes of a dream end to his career hinge on his performance in London on Sunday.
He said: “It’s a make or break weekend for me. If I jump just over eight metres I’ll probably go to the Europeans, if not I’ll leave it there and have fun with the last couple (of meets). It is finishing for me soon, it is becoming a reality.
“Going all out is a relative term with me at the moment. It’s difficult for me to jump multiple rounds, as it becomes quite painful quite quickly in my left ankle.
“I’m in a very different place from where I was a couple of years ago, I’m not coming into Diamond League events saying I want to win it. I know my body is in a bit of a rough place, which is frustrating but I’ve had to accept it.
“I’ll feel out the first one and the second or third, we’ll see.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me to have a bit of a wave and thank the crowd who have supported me for such a long time.”
The 31-year-old missed the chance to defend his world title in London last year through injury and also pulled out of the Commonwealth Games.
He featured in Super Saturday in 2012 when he, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-hill won three golds for Team GB within 44 minutes.
“This is going to be a very emotional weekend. Since London I’ve had such an amazing reception,” added Rutherford, who also won the 2014 Commonwealth title, two European crowns, the 2015 World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics.
“It does bring a tear to the eye. I’ll probably be crying more than jumping.”
Dina Asher-smith also competes in the 200m on Sunday and is eager to run in the 100m as well as defend her 200m title in Berlin.
“I would like to be selected for both of them. My aim is to go and double up in Berlin,” she said. “I’ve been really happy with how the season has gone. Last season was not an ideal situation (after breaking her foot). This weekend it will be really good to improve on a season’s best in the 200 metres.”
Zharnel Hughes and Adam Gemili will race in the 100 metres on Saturday.