• Athletics

Idowu's rival Tamgho out of World Championships

ESPN staff
July 19, 2011
Teddy Tamgho is out of the World Championships © Getty Images
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Great Britain triple jumper Phillips Idowu can anticipate an easier path to gold at this year's World Championships in Daegu after rival Teddy Tamgho was forced to withdraw through injury.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has generally had the better of Idowu at Diamond League meetings this year, regularly approaching the 18-metre barrier and leading Jonathan Edwards to fear for his long-standing world record over the next few seasons.

But Tamgho suffered a broken ankle while competing at the European Under-23 Championships in Ostrava at the weekend, which will now require surgery to fully repair.

As a result, he has confirmed that he will now be out of action until next year.

"Broken ankle (the end of the tibia), operation needed, end of the season," Tamgho posted on Facebook. "Hehe bye bye, see you in 2012."

Tamgho holds the record for the longest jump of the year - after he recorded 17.91m in Lausanne last month - and also owns the indoor world record (17.92m), which he equalled earlier in 2011.

However, he was disappointing as Idowu beat him at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham earlier this month, jumping only 16.74m to Idowu's 17.54m, and the duo were expected to go head-to-head for gold in South Korea.

Now, however, their showdown will have to be postponed until next year's Olympic Games in London.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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