Greg Rutherford believes that this could be the year he wins a world title and has said that his 8.35m leap for victory at the Sainsbury's Birmingham Grand Prix on Sunday puts him in a "fantastic position" ahead of Beijing in August.
The Olympic, European and Commonwealth long jump champion produced his best-ever mark on British soil and the joint second-best of his life at the Alexander Stadium despite having suffered injury problems in the run-up to the event.
"After what I went through over the last three weeks of having the injury and not knowing where I was at, I'm absolutely chuffed with that," he said.
"I think that's sort of showing a bit more where I'm at.
"To get an 8.35m here today - and I felt a bit flat I've got to be honest, and obviously guarding this injury a little bit - I think that puts me in a fantastic position.
"I said this year could be the year that I win a world title and complete that set and I think that's going to send out a bit of a message to the rest of the world."
» An online Sainsbury's Birmingham Grand Prix report can be found here, while the June 11 edition of Athletics Weekly will include more in-depth coverage, pictures and results
