Idowu prepares for qualifying

Team GB's Phillips Idowu was at the Olympic Stadium this morning as he warmed up for triple jump qualifying, preparing to answer the critics who had questioned his readiness for the Games.

There has been frenzied speculation over the Beijing silver medallist’s fitness following his late withdrawal from the Olympic trials and last month’s London Grand Prix, when he pulled out just 25 minutes before the competition was due to start.

Idowu, who is suffering from a trapped nerve, only arrived at the athletes’ village on Sunday. He claimed that for the last few weeks he has simply been in his home city of London, finalising his preparation and receiving treatment, easily reachable by the “appropriate people”.

In contrast, UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee said last week he was perplexed that Idowu had turned his back on UKA and his own coach Aston Moore, who had only received a brief text before Idowu cut off contact.

Amid such claim and counter-claim it is hard to know what sort of shape Idowu is in. He will need to jump 17.10m to qualify automatically for Thursday’s final.