Greg Rutherford clinches historic gold at World Championships in Beijing to become fifth British athlete to claim all four major titles Greg Rutherford won the gold medal for Great Britain in the men's long jump at the World Championships in Beijing Rutherford has become fifth British athlete to hold Olympic, Commonwealth, European & world titles at same time The 28-year-old joins Daley Thompson, Sally Gunnell, Jonathan Edwards and Linford Christie to have achieved feat Team rebel Rutherford has caused controversy with his extraordinary criticism of UK Athletics in recent weeks Rutherford complained on Twitter over the lack of a Union flag on the competition vest for the World Championships Greg Rutherford was blasted by Michael Johnson for sounding off too much in the run up to this World Championships but he silenced his critics in spectacular style by winning a fourth global title. He joins an elite band of British athletes who have completed athletics grand slam of holding all four major championships titles at the same time. With a 8.41m jump in the third round – 21cm better than any of his rivals - the 28-year-old reigning Olympic, European and Commonwealth champion, clinched the World Championships gold medal that had eluded him thus far. Daley Thompson, Sally Gunnell, Jonathan Edwards and Linford Christie are the only other British athletes to have boasted all four titles at the same time. After his gold medal was confirmed, Rutherford raised his arms aloft in celebration and retrieved a Union flag waistcoat from a fan in the stands, which he sarcastically waved at the nearest TV camera. He has been involved in a spat with British Athletics, the sport’s national governing body, over the last two weeks which started with a complaint on Twitter over the lack of a Union flag on the competition vest for the World Championships. Rutherford also accused British Athletics of being more of a ‘hindrance than a help’ to his career. His outspoken manner appears to have ruffled a few feathers and after qualifying for the final yesterday he noted a ‘few awkward moments in the lift’ at the official British team hotel. Rutherford has often complained of people criticising him for being ‘flukey’ but he certainly knows how to perform on the biggest stages. After a massive no-jump in the first round he consulted with his coach Dan Pfaff and took the lead with a leap of 8.29m, which he then extended to 8.41m in the fourth round. It was his second longest jump of all-time, after the national record of 8.51m set at a small meeting in San Diego last year, which his British team-mate Chris Tomlinson said was illegitimate. Usain Bolt set up a tantalising rematch with Justin Gatlin after getting the better of the American drugs cheat in the 100m final on Sunday. The pair both comfortably advanced from their heats of the 200m.

• published: 25 Aug 2015
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