• Commonwealth Games

Rutherford hits out at critics after long jump gold

Gold medalist Greg Rutherford celebrates after the men's long jump final © Getty Images

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Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford says his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games proves he's not a "one-hit wonder".

Rutherford leapt 8.20m on his third jump at Hampden Park to beat South African Zarck Visser into second place after his jump of 8.12m, while rival Chris Tomlinson could only muster a fifth-placed finish with 7.99m.

The victory gives England's Rutherford his fourth major championship medal, after silvers at the 2006 European Championship and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"It's never an easy road and after what happened last year with injury I wasn't sure if I could carry on jumping. Now I've managed to come away with another title," Rutherford told BBC Sport.

"I think a few people had written me off thinking I was a one-hit wonder. But I'm here again and will be here again many more times. I'm super happy. I want to keep going out there jumping far and winning medals."

Max Whitlock led from start to finish in the individual all-around gymnastics © Getty Images

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Elsewhere on the track, England's Jess Taylor won bronze in the heptathlon, while there was disappointment for Martyn Rooney, who finished fourth in the men's 400m final, with London 2012 champion Kirani James taking gold for Grenada in a Games record 44.24 seconds.

Defending champion Dai Greene failed to reach the 400m final for Wales, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 50.36 seconds.

Greene has struggled for form all season due to injury, recording a best time of 49.89, and admitted that he will miss the European Championships in Zurich.

"I knew I was playing catch-up and I really didn't expect to be here four months ago," Greene told BBC Sport.

"I wanted to reach the final but I just ran out of steam and the guys made me pay."

Meanwhile, Max Whitlock produced a stunning display to earn gold in the men's individual all-around gymnastics, his second of the Commonwealth Games.

Whitlock broke the 90-point barrier for the second day in a row, following his efforts in the team final on Tuesday, where England beat Scotland into second place.

London 2012 gold medallist Nicola Adams guaranteed herself a medal after sending Erandi de Silva to the canvas with a clinical left hand in the opening round of their flyweight quarter-final.

Adams produced a boxing masterclass in the next three rounds to receive a standing ovation from the crowd.

Speaking told BBC Sport, Adams said, "I have the medal? Excellent! Creating history all the time! I feel women's boxing has moved on massively since 2012 and this is just the beginning really."

England had to settle for silver in the women's synchronised 10m platform diving after Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow lost out to Canadian pair Meahan Benfeito and Roseline Filion.

In the badminton mixed doubles, husband-and-wife pairing Chris and Gabby Adcock required just 26 minutes to beat Northern Ireland's Tony Murphy and Alannah Stephenson 21-12, 21-13.

"It was about getting the job done today and saving as much energy as we can for the later matches," Gabby told BBC Sport.

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