Dwight Phillips of the USA wins the long jump gold (© Getty Images)
The IAAF World Number One ranked at Long Jump, Dwight Phillips of the USA is getting ready for his second Olympic Games.
Eighth at the Sydney Olympic Games four years ago, 26-year-old Phillips will be the man to beat in Athens. World Indoor and Outdoor Long Jump champion in 2003, the Arizona based young man has recently improved his personal best to 8.60m, the best jump in the world since 2000!
How do you feel going into your second Olympic Games?
Well we are almost there! Another few days and the Athletics competitions are on the way! This is what we have all been waiting for so long and worked hard for.
Last year I was very fortunate to become World Indoor and outdoor Long Jump champion. This year everything is focused on the Olympic Games.
Are you satisfied with your season so far?
My whole season has been going very well and training is going according to plan. Last week at the grand Prix I meeting of Linz in Austria it all came together. The big jump that I was waiting for came at my first attempt and I jumped a personal best of 8.60m!
Since then I have been training in Munich with my US Team mates. Last Sunday was my last competition before the Games, I jumped in the three nations meet in Munich.
And what have you been doing since?
Monday I flew from Munich to Athens where I picked up my accreditation. The next day I flew to Crete where the US team has a Pre-Olympics training camp.
It is so beautiful and peaceful here. I can fully concentrate on my upcoming competition.
I'm sharing a room with Angleo Taylor, 400m Hurdles defending Olympic champion. He comes from the same city as I do in the US, so we know each other for a long time. We shared a room in Sydney too. The people here in Crete are very friendly and helpful. We are all enjoying every bit of it.
Next week we will fly to Athens and I can't wait to tell you all about that.
Caroline Feith for the IAAF
