[HistoricWarwick]

So Team Idowu turns up in the Olympic Village on a Monday morning which becomes headline news and come Tuesday morning Team Idowu is going home which again is headline news.

Any injury is immaterial. His behaviour sticks out like a sore thumb in contrast to the rest of Team GB. I hope he apologises to the rest of the team including his trainer and management - but I doubt it.

[JonB]

I'm slightly annoyed he hasnt made it as the triple jump finals are whilst we are there on Thurs night. What with him and the female javelin thrower pulling out injured GB involvement on Thurs night could be limited.

[Paul Fisher]

JonB, on 07 August 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

I'm slightly annoyed he hasnt made it as the triple jump finals are whilst we are there on Thurs night. What with him and the female javelin thrower pulling out injured GB involvement on Thurs night could be limited.

What a waste of talent, if he wasn't fit, then allow someone who is fit and wouldn't normally get the opportunity.

[HistoricWarwick]

JonB, on 07 August 2012 - 11:21 AM, said:

I'm slightly annoyed he hasnt made it as the triple jump finals are whilst we are there on Thurs night. What with him and the female javelin thrower pulling out injured GB involvement on Thurs night could be limited.

What bugs me is that he appears to have no interest in the team and his role as a figurehead within it. He appears happy to make money from being a face of GB athletics but, regardless of his relationship with the top brass, he has alienated himself through his own behaviour.

[JonB]

Spire Writer, on 07 August 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

What a waste of talent, if he wasn't fit, then allow someone who is fit and wouldn't normally get the opportunity.

To be fair i dont think he has really taken the place of anyone else as we had no one else who has jumped the qualifying distance in the first place to be eligible for selection. Also reading the interviews from him afterwards i think UK Athletics have dumped on him a bit. Looks like Idowu hasnt had a penny of funding for nearly 3 years so he's done it all out of his own pocket and that includes his physio etc up to the Olympics and the surgery he now needs to cure the injury. I'm also not sure why UK Athletics made such a big deal about the injury and demanding to see medical records etc...just put more pressure on Idowu and let his competitors know he wasnt 100%.

[Paul Fisher]

JonB, on 07 August 2012 - 12:02 PM, said:

To be fair i dont think he has really taken the place of anyone else as we had no one else who has jumped the qualifying distance in the first place to be eligible for selection. Also reading the interviews from him afterwards i think UK Athletics have dumped on him a bit. Looks like Idowu hasnt had a penny of funding for nearly 3 years so he's done it all out of his own pocket and that includes his physio etc up to the Olympics and the surgery he now needs to cure the injury. I'm also not sure why UK Athletics made such a big deal about the injury and demanding to see medical records etc...just put more pressure on Idowu and let his competitors know he wasnt 100%.

But then why promote him as a "poster boy" ? He didn't actually turn up for the qualifying event, so that to me says he shouldn't have wasted everyone's time. I'm more disappointed than angry with him to be fair, such a talent though. To be objective to UK Athletics, funding is p..poor in this country for ALL athletes, so don't want to single him out. Hopefully this olympiad will help sponsorship grow and finally tell the government that funding is required to provide for these athletes, and not just tourists.

[calvin plummers socks]

Without going to deep into it all-(im friends with his coach and have trained with PI over the years)- he has done everything asked of him but been treated awfully by UkA.

They withdrew all support including medical due to the fall out with the performance director (childish games).
Phil has never spoken negatively of anyone-is extremely popular with his teammates and has let no-one down (except himself perhaps). He has fulfilled all his NGB's stipulations in terms of PR and marketing.
Didn't even cost them a penny as he didn't go to monte gordo etc.
He certainly didnt deny anyone else a place on the team!