View source for Phillips Idowu

{{short description|British triple jumper}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}
| image = 20090818 Phillips Idowu (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 225px
| caption = Phillips Idowu at the 2009 World Championships.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|12|30}}
| birth_place = [[London]], England<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/86925 |access-date=28 September 2023 |title=Olympedia – Phillips Idowu }}</ref>
| height = 1.97 m
| weight = 87 kg
| country = {{GBR2}}
| sport = Athletics
| event = [[Triple jump]]
| coach = 
| highestranking = 
| pb = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Country| {{GBR2}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu]]|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF Diamond League|Diamond League]] }}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2011 IAAF Diamond League|2011]]|Triple jump }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2010 European Athletics Championships|2010 Barcelona]]|[[2010 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2008 Valencia]]|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Indoor Championships in Athletics|European Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2007 European Indoor Championships in Athletics|2007 Birmingham]]|Triple jump}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF Continental Cup|Continental Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2010 IAAF Continental Cup|2010 Split]]|Triple jump}}
{{Medal|Country| {{ENG}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]|Triple jump}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|Triple jump}}
|updated= 15 August 2012
}}

'''Phillips Olaosebikan Idowu''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 30 December 1978) is a British athlete who specialised in the [[triple jump]] and was active at elite level between 2000 and 2014, with his greatest success coming between 2006 and 2011. He is a former World Outdoor (2009) and Indoor (2008), European Outdoor (2010) and Indoor (2007), Diamond League (2011) and Commonwealth Games (2006) triple jump champion. He was also a silver medalist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]. Idowu is a member of the London-based [[Belgrave Harriers]] athletics club and has been for much of his career.

Despite his successes, Idowu had suffered by comparisons with his senior compatriot [[Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper)|Jonathan Edwards]], and had been at times accused of inconsistency and of failing to fulfil his potential,<ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Broadbent |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article3182236.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202101033/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article3182236.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2008 |title=Plenty of green shoots but few hints of blossoming superstars |work=The Times |date=14 January 2008 |access-date=22 November 2009 |location=London}}</ref> including his disappointing injury-affected failure at the [[London Olympics 2012]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/gold-medal-hope-phillips-idowu-fails-to-qualify-for--mens-triple-jump-final-8014914.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/gold-medal-hope-phillips-idowu-fails-to-qualify-for--mens-triple-jump-final-8014914.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=7 August 2012 |location=London |first=Jerome |last=Taylor |date=7 August 2012}}</ref> His championship record since 2007, especially his gold medal at the [[2009 World Athletics Championships]], addressed some of these criticisms; by the end of his elite career, the Olympic Games was the only major championship gold to have eluded him, with a silver medal his best return in 2008.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference}}</ref>

==Career==
Idowu grew up in [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/phillips-idowu-hackney-made-me-who-i-am-and-i-hope-to-inspire-people-here-with-olympic-gold-7745952.html |title=Phillips Idowu: 'Hackney made me who I am and I hope to inspire people |date=14 May 2012 |website=Evening Standard |access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref> and was a talented sportsman at school in both basketball and [[American football]], yet he was most successful as a junior in athletics. In 1997 he came to attention as a triple jumper when he won the [[The English Schools Championships|English Schools Championships]] and the under-20s [[Amateur Athletic Association|AAA]] title, rounding off the year by coming fourth in the [[European Athletics Junior Championships|European Junior Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/athletebio.aspx?at=1746 |title=British Olympic Association > Athletes > Phillips Idowu |publisher=Olympics.org.uk |date=30 December 1978 |access-date=31 August 2009}}</ref>

Idowu's success continued in 2000, when he was ranked in the top 10 [[triple jump]]ers in the world and placed sixth in the [[2000 Olympic Games]]. In 2001 he won the [[European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]], though later that year his form was found wanting at the [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Edmonton]]. His first major international medal came when he won silver at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]], setting a new personal best of 17.68&nbsp;metres but losing to world record holder and compatriot [[Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper)|Jonathan Edwards]]. Later in 2002 he placed 5th in the [[2002 European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]].<ref>{{World Athletics||name=Phillips Idowu}}</ref>

In 2012, Idowu defeated world champion Christian Taylor at a [[Shanghai Golden Grand Prix|Diamond League meeting in Shanghai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18077026 |title=Idowu |work=BBC Sport |access-date=21 May 2012}}</ref>

===Injury===
A knee injury that required surgery ruled Idowu out of the whole 2003 season. His aim was to return to form in 2004 to compete at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in Athens]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Sarah |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4602969.stm |title=BBC SPORT &#124; Athletics &#124; Idowu eyes gold |work=BBC News |date=6 June 2005 |access-date=31 August 2009}}</ref>

===Championship success===
In March 2006, Idowu triumphed at the [[2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] in [[Melbourne]], winning gold. However, he failed to maintain this form and once again finished in 5th place at the [[2006 European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]] later that year.

In 2007, in the absence of world leader [[Christian Olsson]], Idowu beat compatriot [[Nathan Douglas]] to gold in the [[2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]] in Birmingham. He recorded a championship record jump of 17.56&nbsp;m, beating Olsson's world-leading jump by 12&nbsp;cm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/6413583.stm |title=Idowu takes gold in triple jump |work=BBC Sport |date=3 March 2007}}</ref> Idowu went on to win the [[IAAF Golden League]] Bislett Games in June 2007 with a distance of 17.35&nbsp;m. By July 2007 he was ranked the number three triple jumper in the world, a new career high.

On 9 March 2008, Idowu won his first world title, taking the gold medal at the [[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships]] in [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]], Spain. His jump of 17.75&nbsp;m also broke the British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] Indoor record previously held by his compatriot and former adversary Jonathan Edwards, who presented him with his medal at the ceremony. Despite his successes at the Indoor Championships and Commonwealth Games, Idowu decided to change coach, switching from [[John Herbert (athlete)|John Herbert]] to [[1982 Commonwealth Games]] medalist [[Aston Moore]]. Reflecting on his choice, Idowu stated: "now is the right time to make a change as I develop and move forward".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/431/484/3739/3/7 |title=Idowu and Herbert Part Ways |work=Athletics Weekly |date=24 April 2008 |access-date=28 January 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Phillips Idowu Berlin 2009.JPG|thumb|Idowu on the way to his first World Championships title in 2009 with a broken arm]]

Idowu won the men's triple jump title at the 2008 British Olympic Trials with a distance of 17.58&nbsp;m, at the time the longest outdoor jump of 2008. He followed this up with further jumps of 17.57&nbsp;m and 17.27&nbsp;m.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7504337.stm |title=Idowu takes title with world's best |work=BBC Sport |date=13 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Phillips |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jul/14/olympicgames2008.athletics |title=Idowu targets world record after taking giant stride to glory |publisher=Guardian online |date=14 July 2008 |location=London}}</ref>

Idowu took silver in the [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|men's triple jump]] at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]] behind World Champion [[Nelson Évora]] after arriving at the games as the favourite. His best jump was 17.62&nbsp;m, achieved in the third round. In an interview with Reuters, Idowu expressed disappointment at having won only silver, though he displayed good humour and also looked forward to the next Olympics in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/telecomm/idUKSYD18838420080822?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title='There ain't no better athlete than me.' &#124; Olympics |publisher=Uk.reuters.com |date=22 August 2008 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902071416/http://uk.reuters.com/article/telecomm/idUKSYD18838420080822?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 |archive-date=2 September 2008}}</ref>

Idowu missed the start of the 2009 athletics season due to a knee injury.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8077866.stm |title=Idowu starts season with victory |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=31 January 2020 |via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
On Tuesday 18 August 2009 he won the [[2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Berlin]] with the longest jump of anyone so far this year and an outdoors personal best distance of 17.73&nbsp;m, again having his medal presented by Jonathan Edwards.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8206569.stm |title=Idowu wins Britain's second gold |date=18 August 2009 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=18 August 2009}}</ref>
In July 2010 he broke his triple jump personal best jumping 17.81 metres at the Barcelona [[2010 European Athletics Championships|European Athletics Championships]] to win gold.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8868881.stm |title=Phillips Idowu wins European Athletics triple jump gold |date=29 July 2010 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=8 September 2010}}</ref>

Idowu was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2011 Birthday Honours|2011]] [[Queen's Birthday Honours]] "for services to athletics".<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=17 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2011 Queen's Birthday Honours List |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_06_11honours_mainlist.pdf |publisher=BBC |access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref>

===2012 Summer Olympics===
Idowu was battling for fitness coming into the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in his native London, and had not jumped competitively for nearly three months. Idowu struggled and could not make it past the qualifying round of the triple jump, ending his hopes of a medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/london-olympics-2012/sport/story/164053.html |access-date=7 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18902926 |access-date=7 August 2012}}</ref>

===2013–14===
After receiving leg surgery in autumn 2012, Idowu continued to struggle with fitness and form during 2013. In July 2013 he announced that he was "taking a step back" from the sport "for the foreseeable future", a step that some interpreted as tantamount to retirement.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/10174902/Triple-jumper-Phillips-Idowus-break-will-be-permanent-claims-former-world-champion-Jonathan-Edwards.html Triple jumper Phillips Idowu's break will be permanent, claims former world champion Jonathan Edwards], ''The Telegraph'', 11 July 2013</ref> However, Idowu returned to top-level international competition at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in May 2014, after a spell of training and competition in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/preview/shanghai-2014-iaaf-diamond-league-preview |title=Nine reigning world champions look to shine in Shanghai – 2014 IAAF Diamond League&#124; News |website=www.worldathletics.org |access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref>

Aged 36 in 2014, Idowu has not competed internationally since that season.

==Personal life==
Idowu was educated at [[Brunel University London]], where he studied sports sciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Brunel-athletes-head-for-Melbourne# |title=Brunel athletes head for Melbourne |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=3 February 2006 |website=[[Brunel University London]] |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>

Idowu is known to the public for his eccentric personality, sporting a variety of hair colours, an array of facial piercings and trademark booming laugh. Other than triple jump, Idowu also enjoys basketball.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jun/24/olympicgames2008.athletics |title='I took control and now I feel unbeatable' |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=24 June 2008 |access-date=31 August 2009 |location=London |first=Donald |last=McRae}}</ref> He has a daughter, D'Karma (born 2007), and a son, Prince (born 2010).<ref>Donald Mcrae Interviews Phillips Idowu"</ref> Both his parents are Nigerian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympics30.com/30british-hopefuls/PhillipsIdowu.asp |title=Phillips Idowu - Olympics30.com |website=www.olympics30.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213214647/http://www.olympics30.com/30british-hopefuls/PhillipsIdowu.asp |archive-date=2012-02-13}} </ref>

In 2013, Idowu joined [[Jack Dee]], [[Dara Ó Briain]], [[Greg James]], [[Melanie C]] and [[Chelsee Healey]] in ''Through Hell and High Water'', a [[Comic Relief]] challenge which involved British celebrities canoeing the most difficult rapids of the [[Zambezi River]]. They raised over £1 million for the charity. He also appeared in the 2013 edition of ''[[Celebrity MasterChef]], ''being eliminated in the second round.

In 2013 Idowu was banned from driving for two years and ordered to complete 50 hours community service after being caught [[drink driving]] by police.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Hart |title=Mr |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/10360501/Phillips-Idowu-banned-from-driving-for-two-years-after-pleading-guilty-to-drink-driving.html |access-date=7 October 2013 |newspaper=Telegraph |location=London |date=7 October 2013}}</ref>

==Personal bests==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Best
! Location
! Date
|-
| [[Triple jump]]
| 17.81 m
| [[Barcelona]], Spain
| 29 July 2010
|-
| Triple jump (indoor)
| 17.75 m
| [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]], Spain
| 9 March 2008
|-
| [[Long jump]]
| 7.83 m
| [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia
| 25 July 2000
|-
| [[60 metres]]
| 6.81 s
| [[Carshalton]], London, England
| 31 January 2004
|-
| [[100 metres]]
| 10.60 s
| [[Ballarat]], Australia
| 25 February 2006
|}
{{Clear}}

===International competitions===
[[File:Triple Jump,Idowu Phillips, Beijing 08.jpg|thumb|700px|Panorama of Phillips Idowu in [[2008 Olympic Games]]|alt=|none]]
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}
|-
|1999
|[[1999 European Athletics U23 Championships|European U23 Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
|5th
|[[1999 European Athletics U23 Championships – Men's triple jump|16.39 m]] <small>(wind:&nbsp;+0.6&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|2000
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Stadium Australia|Sydney]], Australia
|6th
|17.08&nbsp;m
|-
|2001
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]]
|[[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Edmonton]], Canada
|9th
|16.60&nbsp;m
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
||[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
||[[City of Manchester Stadium|Manchester]], UK
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|17.68&nbsp;m
|-
|[[2002 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Olympic Stadium (Munich)|Munich]], Germany
|5th
|16.92&nbsp;m
|-
|2004
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens]], Greece
|12th
|No Mark
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
||[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
||[[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]], Australia
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|17.45&nbsp;m
|-
|[[2006 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Ullevi Stadium|Gothenburg]], Sweden
|5th
|[[2006 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|17.02&nbsp;m]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
||[[2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
||[[National Indoor Arena|Birmingham]], UK
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|17.56&nbsp;m
|-
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]]
|[[Nagai Stadium|Osaka]], Japan
|6th
|17.09&nbsp;m
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
||[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
||[[Luis Puig Palace|Valencia]], Spain
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|17.75&nbsp;m
|-
|[[2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Beijing National Stadium|Beijing]], China
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|17.62&nbsp;m
|-
|2009
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]]
|[[Olympic Stadium (Berlin)|Berlin]], Germany
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|17.73&nbsp;m
|-
|2010
||[[2010 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
||[[Montjuic|Barcelona]], Spain
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|17.81&nbsp;m
|-
|2011
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]]
|[[Daegu]], South Korea
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|17.77&nbsp;m
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Turnbull |title=Phillips Idowu: Hang on to your hats... here comes Idowu |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/phillips-idowu-hang-on-to-your-hats-here-comes-idowu-1825464.html |date=22 November 2009 |access-date=22 November 2009 |location=London |work=The Independent}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Phillips Idowu}}
* {{World Athletics|14189691}}
* {{European Athletics|14189691|old_id=i/athlete=143093-idowu-phillips}}
* {{Olympics.com|org_archive=20200607171445}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813051542/http://www.mtc-uk.com/talent/phillips-idowu |title=Phillips Idowu - MTC Talent Management |date=dmy}}

{{Footer World Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer European Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer European Champions Indoor Triple Jump Men}}
{{British Athletics Championships men's triple jump champions}}
{{Footer IAAF Diamond League Triple Jump Champions Men}}
{{European Athlete of the Year (men)}}
{{Footer WBYP Triple Men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Idowu, Phillips}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Hackney]]
[[Category:English male triple jumpers]]
[[Category:British male triple jumpers]]
[[Category:Olympic male triple jumpers]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:European Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:British Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:AAA Championships winners]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:European Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Alumni of Brunel University London]]
[[Category:Black British sportsmen]]
[[Category:English people of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:British Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics]]