GREG RUTHERFORD

My dad is a builder, and my mum's a nurse. They're just very normal people.

Adrenaline is an incredible thing.

I think there are lot more lows in an athletes career than the highs, but you've got to be bale to take them on the chin.

During your career, you put yourself in peak physical condition, but then you bear the brunt of it for the rest of your life.

I seem to be the 'luckiest' athlete around - and that's one of the most frustrating things. You compete against a vast array of people and train your whole life for those moments.

It's all about proving it on the track and proving to people that have different views wrong.

It will be good fun finding out what sport baby's good at; perhaps it will be something obscure. My parents were fantastic at taking me to training sessions and letting me try lots of different sports, so I want to do the same.

I've never had a car sponsor or all the things that most others seemed to have had.

I am pleased I went from fourth back into a medal position, but bronze is not good enough for me.

Fruit is carb-based, and I limit carbs when training hard.

People forget that track and field is one of the hardest sports because we compete against all the world. There are many sports when you are up against only 15 or 20 countries.

My entire life, I've been searching for acceptance.

I take magnesium to prevent cramps. A few years back, I suffered from hamstring tears, and part of that can be to do with muscle cramping, and then pushing the muscle at that point. I also take a fish oil supplement.

I've had 30 hamstring tears.

Although 8.25 isn't very big, it's good to be the best of Europe again.

I drive relatively fast - within the remits of the law, obviously - but I struggle with people who do stupid things on the road. I have a massive urge to shout expletives at them.

There's definitely football in the blood, but my body made my decision for me that I was going to be an Olympic athlete instead.

I take my three dogs for long walks every day, and I use that time to talk myself through winning every major competition.

If you look at the skeleton, the start is very important.

Running up a steep hill or up steps are fantastic ways of building explosive strength.

Ultimately, you've got to answer your critics on the track, and I am very much hoping 8.41m is acceptable for people.

I do weights three or four times a week, and it has had an incredible impact on my confidence.

If other people have problems with my competitions, then there's nothing I can do.

I think it was just me who thought I could be Olympic champion. I've been telling myself that, and I did that.

My grandfather died before I was born, so I never had the chance to speak with him about his father. But I learned about him from books.