Former Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford gives the low-down on the contenders for the long jump title at the World Athletic Championships in London
The 30-year-old was forced to pull out after failing to overcome an ankle injury
GREG RUTHERFORD was forced to pull out on the eve of the World Championships where he planned to defend his long jump title after failing to recover from an ankle injury.
Here the Olympic 2012 champion, bronze medallist in Rio last summer and reigning Commonwealth and European title holder gives the low-down on the main contenders aiming to take over the world gold from him in the showdown tonight.
LUVO MANYONGA
The 26 year-old South African took silver ahead of me in Rio last summer and as long as he is fit has the potential to go one better and finish on top of the podium.
He picked up an ankle injury competing in Stockholm in June so securing the world title no longer looks so certain but his team are saying he is fine and ready to go.
He jumped a world leading 8.65m earlier this season and if he is fit and healthy you HAVE to expect him to win. Currently there is no one else that is even challenging him.
But if he is still carrying an injury the competition is completely open again as it probably has been for the last seven or eight years.
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RUSHWAHL SAMAAI
Another South African. The 25 year-old has jumped 8.49m and also had a good season last year only for the Olympics in Rio to go incredibly badly for him when he made the final but then finished ninth.
He's capable of stepping up a bit more this year and has been very consistent so far.
JARRION LAWSON
You never know with the Americans. Every year after the USA trials I get told ''oh they've jumped this far and they are going to win gold' but it doesn't often work like that.
Obviously JEFF HENDERSON won the Olympic title last year but he's been relatively quiet this season - and was subsequently knocked out in the long jump qualification on Friday.
But Lawson has the ability to get it right. He was fourth in Rio and won the USA trials jumping 8.49m. He's had so many injuries, but is a very good athlete and if you are even jumping around the 8.30m mark you are in the mix.
MICHEL TORNEUS
From a European perspective we're looking at the Swedish jumper. He's had some good performances recently and I would love for him to get a world medal.
He's been around a long time, he's 31 now, and I've become good friends with him.
He's always in the mix. He was fourth at London 2012 and took silver behind me at the European Championships last summer.
Again the Olympics didn't go well after he failed to make the final but it would be nice for European jumping for someone like him to come out and claim a medal. And someone new on the podium too.
Greg Rutherford will provide analysis in Eurosport’s live coverage of the World Championships.
