Greg Rutherford in the long jump at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London (© Getty Images)
Current world long jump champion Greg Rutherford believes the Müller Anniversary Games at the London Stadium on Sunday 9 July will be his biggest test ahead of his title defence attempt at the IAAF World Championships London 2017 in August.
The Müller Anniversary Games, the ninth stop on the 2017 IAAF Diamond League series, has extra significance this year, with the IAAF World Championships being staged on the same track just four weeks later.
Rutherford, who is currently training in Arizona, is excited about the big summer ahead.
"I can’t wait for the Müller Anniversary Games, it will be a great opportunity for me to test myself ahead of the IAAF World Championships," said the 2012 Olympic champion.
"I’m a competitive person so I have missed being out there competing in the last few months, but I’m raring to go and looking forward to getting back on the track soon."
Rutherford retained his European title last summer and followed that with an Olympic bronze medal in Rio, before entering a very different competitive arena as a contestant on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
He is determined to be at his best outdoors this season, particularly at the Müller Anniversary Games, where he believes the level of competition, atmosphere and excitement are second to none.
"It was a fantastic experience to take some time out for Strictly, but I’m fully focused on athletics and I’m really happy with how my training is going.
"It’s always very special for me to compete in London, I’m sure it will be an amazing send off for the British team ahead of the World Championships."
Organisers for the IAAF
2017 IAAF Diamond League calendar
5 May – Doha, QAT
13 May – Shanghai, CHN
27 May – Eugene, USA
8 Jun – Rome, ITA
15 Jun – Oslo, NOR
18 Jun – Stockholm, SWE
1 Jul – Paris, FRA
6 Jul – Lausanne, SUI
9 Jul – London, GBR
16 Jul – Rabat, MAR
21 Jul – Monaco, MON
20 Aug – Birmingham, GBR
24 Aug – Zurich, SUI
1 Sep – Brussels, BEL