World title would be icing on cake for Rutherford

If Greg Rutherford can add world champion to his long list of accolades this year then he says he can ride into the sunset as a happy man.

The 28-year-old took Olympic long jump gold in 2012 and last year added European and Commonwealth titles to his collection.

This year will see Rutherford head to Beijing in attempt to become world champion before heading to Rio next summer to defend his Olympic crown.

But this could be the beginning of the end for Rutherford who admits he wants to call it quits while he is still at the height of his powers.

“I’ll get out while still at the top, I hope,” said Rutherford.

“If I win the World Championships, in many ways there’s nothing left for me, but I like the idea of the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 2018.

“The Games in Melbourne in 2006 was my first event in a senior vest, so it would be a nice way to round it off.”

Before the trip to China Rutherford will be returning to the scene of his most iconic performance as he gets set for the Anniversary Games in July.

And he admits it will be a memorable moment as he steps out at the London Olympic Stadium once again.

“It will be an emotional time for me,” he admitted. “It won’t be identical as the stadium’s changed but it is still the place that defined my career.

“Even if I break the world record, people will still remember me more for that. So it should be inspirational and no doubt there’ll be a tear in the eye.

“As for being Olympic champion, sometimes I don’t feel like I am. It’s something I aspired to for so long, in many ways the enormity of that is still only just now sinking in.”

© Sportsbeat 2015