Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford, 29, answers our health quiz
- His vices include an occasional pick and mix although he rarely drinks
- He eats lots of vegetables and salads but cuts down on fruit when training
- Says he was ‘very grumpy’ and didnt feel great when put on a no-carb diet
- Is kept awake at night worrying about his 20-month-old son Milo
Good Health For The Daily Mail
View
comments
Long jumper Greg Rutherford reveals he rarely drinks but does enjoy the occasional pick and mix
CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?
Yes — that is one of my training sessions. Normally, I train six days a week. When at home in Buckinghamshire, I tend to work out for two to three hours on the track or in the woods close by, and then do weights.
Right now I’m preparing for Rio and have been competing internationally at meets. (He’s had his sperm frozen so if he is infected with the Zika virus it will not affect future pregnancies, his partner Susie Verrill, has revealed.) At the end of the season I have five to six weeks off.
GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?
I probably get more. I eat a lot of vegetables and salad. I put strawberries, pomegranate seeds, blackberries and blueberries into shakes and add Greek yoghurt for a snack. I have this when I’m not training. Fruit is carb-based and I limit carbs when training hard.
POP ANY PILLS?
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.
EVER DIETED?
Yes. I put myself on a very strict no-carb diet in 2010, so that my body was in a state of ketosis, which means it starts burning its fat stores. I did get very grumpy and didn’t feel great.
ANY VICES?
I do have a sweet tooth, so I will have the occasional pick and mix in the off-season. I rarely drink.
-
‘I spent £25,000 on diamonds then flushed them down the…
World first’s toxic shock syndrome vaccine ‘protects women…
Fancy a glass of red, ladies? How women prone to UTIs can…
Is using the power of your MIND the best way to beat chronic…
MOST SERIOUS ILLNESS?
I contracted shingles after losing a lot of blood post-surgery when I had my tonsils removed in 2009. There was no lasting damage but it took six weeks to recover.
My worst injury was when I ruptured my right hamstring at the Paris Diamond League in 2013. I thought it was career-ending but fortunately it wasn’t. It was very, very painful.
ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?
Stomach cancer, which took my maternal grandad in 2008 and took his dad at the same age — 72. As I get a little bit older I will get checks for that.
Mr Rutherford is training for the Rio Olympics and had his sperm frozen so if he is infected with the Zika virus it will not affect future pregnancies. Pictured with his partner Susie Verrill
He says he can’t live without the long jump pit in his garden at home – and has a phobia of spiders. He said: ‘I can cover them with a glass but then I have to get Susie to remove them’
COPE WELL WITH PAIN?
Pretty well. After having so many injuries you learn to deal with it.
CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
The long jump pit in my garden at home.
EVER GOOGLED AN ILLNESS?
When my grandad got cancer I went online to see if there was a cure, but the stats I read were terrible, so I won’t do that again…
He says the only thing that keeps him awake at night is worrying over his 20-month-old son Milo. he and partner Susie are pictured after announcing she was pregnant
EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?
I’ve been down when I’ve been injured or when competitions haven’t gone the way I wanted them to, but I’ve never been afflicted with depression.
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE?
Constant worry about my 20-month-old son Milo. I aim to get about eight hours a night — but it depends on Milo.
HAVE ANY PHOBIAS?
Spiders. Some absolute monsters come into the house. I can cover them with a glass but then I have to get Susie to remove them.
Greg has been working with Sun-Pat on its Spread the Energy competition.
Share or comment on this article
-
Shooting victim captures terror at Orlando club on Snapchat
-
Mysterious ‘craft’ object seen racing past Jupiter
-
Neighbor video catches hail of gunfire at club where 49 died
-
24 shots in 9 seconds: Orlando gunman club massacre
-
Adorable moment dog tip-toes past door with cat behind it
-
Donald Trump in New Hampshire: Terror attack, gays, and…
-
Couple appear to have sex in public with young girl next to…
-
Heroic lifeguard saves child in South Carolina swimming pool
-
Pulse shooter’s father: Punishing gay people is Allah’s job
-
Moment SWAT team engaged Orlando club shooter in rapid…
-
Shocking interstate roll-over crash caught on camera
-
Hostage in Orlando club tells mom ‘he’s going to die’
-
Terrifying moment ISIS gunman opened fire inside Florida gay…
-
Trump tears into Clinton over Orlando as he says attacks…
-
ISIS claims responsibility for Florida gay club massacre:…
-
Facebook and Reddit accused of censorship after pages…
-
EXCLUSIVE: Inside the suburban home of a terrorist: Gunman’s…
-
Faces of the 49: Parents, dancers, students and nurses among…
-
Amateur astronomer captures ‘UFO’ hurtling past Jupiter as…
-
‘I’m gonna die, Momma’: Orlando clubber, 30, who sent…
-
‘It’s absolute war!’ Trump demands tougher domestic…
-
Orlando shooter’s father is running for president of…
-
‘Tell them I’m in the bathroom. He’s coming I’m gonna die’:…
-
Omar Mateen was gay, says ex-wife and former friend: Orlando…
Comments (0)
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
Find out now