Greg Rutherford 'disappointed' to miss out on Glasgow return
Thursday 18 February 2016 17:29, UK
Greg Rutherford admits he is 'very disappointed' after being forced to pull out of Saturday's Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow.
The Olympic and world long jump champion, who broke the British indoor record with a leap of 8.26 metres in Albuquerque earlier this month, has revealed a 'small muscle tear' put paid to his chances of competing at the Emirates Arena.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ he said: "We are doing everything we possibly can to make sure it heals quickly and I am seeing my physio daily to get on with that.
"I'm very, very disappointed to not be jumping this weekend - it was going to be a fantastic competition. Glasgow has some special memories for me with the Commonwealth Games and everything else.
"It would have been nice to have been there, but these things happen and ultimately I've got an Olympic Games to think about and I can't do anything silly."
The 29-year-old was due to face Paralympic long jump champion Markus Rehm and the head-to-head had been highly anticipated. The German Paralympian hopes to compete in this summer's Olympics, but will need to prove he does not gain any advantage with his prosthetic blade.
In 2014, Rehm became the first athlete with an impairment to compete in the final of an event at the able-bodied German Championships, winning the long jump with a distance of 8.24m.
Rutherford described Rehm's achievements as "out of this world" and believes his determination to compete at the Olympics is great for his event and sport.
"We are all thinking it will be great if he has an opportunity," he added. "We just have to wait and see. There's obviously all the controversy about testing it and everything else.
"Ultimately I think he's just an athlete who wants to get out there and do as well as he possibly can. If they go through all the formalities and it's all great, then maybe I'll see him at the Olympics."
