Injuries piling up now, says Rutherford

ATHLETICS:

Greg Rutherford is determined to add to his impressive collection of titles but knows his body is starting to fail him.

Having followed his London Olympics 2012 long jump gold with a bronze last year in Rio, Rutherford (above) returned to training in January but has suffered two herniated discs in his back and a recurring problem with his left foot.

His target is a successful defence of his title at the World Championships in London in August.

Injuries prevented him from jumping until Friday when he won with a jump of 8.18 metres at the Great City Games in Manchester. Rutherford, 30, said: ‘Because I’m getting older my body just doesn’t respond in the same way. It’s just going to be something I have to deal with.’

Meanwhile, Katarina Johnson Thompson leads an incredibly tight heptathlon event in Gotzis, Austria, after the first day by just three points from Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, who is herself three points ahead of thirdplaced German Carolina Schafer.

MOTOR CYCLING:

Fans paid tribute to Nicky Hayden before the Superbike World Championship race at Donington Park yesterday.

Spectators gathered by the track near the American’s bike and helmet for a minute’s silence. Hayden died aged 35 in hospital last Monday following a cycling accident in Rimini.

Tom Sykes won, cutting Jonathan Rea’s lead in the championship to 50 points before today’s race.

CYCLING:

Nairo Quintana of Colombia holds a slender 39-second lead over home favourite Vincenzo Nibali going into the final time trial stage of the Giro d’Italia in Milan today.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot won yesterday’s 20th stage to move up to third place overall.

Dutchman Tom Dumoulin dropped to fourth but is favourite to win the event when it concludes today.