Britain’s London 2012 long jump champion once had his achievements branded a fluke but he is now ready to again defy critics of his lofty ambitions
You know how Greg Rutherford celebrated his first day as a retired athlete? By turning up at the Whitley Bay junior Parkrun on Sunday morning to be a tail walker, chatting to kids from four to 14, and turning what might have felt like a 2km slog into a chance to high-five an Olympic champion. But Rutherford gets it. He understands that being a role model starts – not ends – with winning medals, although he was damn good at that too.
Has any British sports star squeezed so much pith and pulp from high class – if not truly exceptional – natural talent? Or been able to so consistently rise to the big occasion, when the heart is performing a particularly discordant drum’n’bass track? Even now, his achievements do not get the credit they deserve.
Written by Sean Ingle
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/sep/10/greg-rutherford-olympic-champion-ready-to-again-defy-critics-of-his-ambition under the title “Retiring hero Greg Rutherford still driven to prove people wrong | Sean Ingle”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
