Greg Rutherford is flying, but Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill have issues - Brendan Foster column

Sunday’s Diamond League meet in Birmingham will test two of Britain’s 2012 heroes but the absence of a third is a concern
Golden question: Farah, Ennis-Hill and Rutherford triumphed on Super Saturday but the chances of all three retaining their Olympic titles are in the balance
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Brendan Foster3 June 2016

On Sunday it is exactly two months to the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. It’s time for athletes to get serious.

They have competed in the indoor season and some Diamond League meets around the world in recent weeks but everything cranks up several gears on Sunday.

For Mo Farah, the Diamond League event in Birmingham is a chance to lay down a vital marker after suffering a surprise defeat at the Great Edinburgh XCountry in January and then again at the World Half-Marathon in Cardiff two months later.

He took these defeats and went back to the drawing board and developed a plan to win in Rio.

Mo is the most determined, talented and focused athlete I know but must recapture that air of invincibility that surrounded him at the World Championships last year when he was untouchable.

Yes, I know Mo is determined to retain his titles in Rio but let’s not start hanging the gold around his neck just yet. We will see in Birmingham if his plan is working.

One British athlete who is at the top of his game is Greg Rutherford.

Team GB Rio Oympics 2016 Kit designed by Stella McCartney

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Greg won in Rome last night with a season’s best of 8.31metres — the same distance that made him Olympic champion in London four years ago.

Last night, Greg suggested he may miss the Birmingham meeting to rest but that would be a shame if the British crowd don’t get to see him. They love Greg.

He sometimes carries the demeanour of a man who feels unappreciated. Maybe this motivates him?

He should take it from me, however, that he is an amazing athlete — an Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European champion — and one of the best Britain has produced.

He will go to Rio as favourite for gold and if he does compete in Birmingham he could do something special. Significantly, one athlete who will be missing from a world-class field on Sunday is Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Her coach, Toni Minichiello, worked miracles last year to get her back into shape to win gold at the World Championships so soon after becoming a mother for the first time. It looks like he will have to do the same this time following a long-term Achilles injury for Jess.

She needs major competition if she is to challenge for medals in Rio and Sunday would have provided it. I still believe Jess can make it to the Olympics and win but it looks a tougher challenge with every passing week.

STREET RUNNING IS GREAT BUT JOIN US AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM NOW JOIN

Olympic champions like Mo, Jess and Greg take the headlines but the real heroes of athletics are the people that get out on the streets around London every night of the week.

Rio must feel like a million miles from Romford but the connection is there. A mile is the same distance whether Mo runs it or you do.

With the problems that athletics has had in recent months, it is fantastic to see that running in London has never been so popular.

An additional one million people go out running every week in England alone compared with a few years ago and its appeal is spanning the generations.

According to research, 1.89 million 18-34 year olds regularly take part in running, compared with 1.69m for the previous 12 months. Young people are taking to the streets and I love that.

The Great Newham London Run in the Olympic Stadium on July 17gives people the opportunity to charge down the home straight and have their golden moment like Mo, Jess or Usain Bolt.

It is an amazing experience to run in the Olympic Stadium. This year will be the biggest event yet and, just three weeks before Rio 2016, it will be even more special.

To enter the Great Newham London Run, visit greatrun.org/newham17

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