PHILLIPS Idowu's bid for an elusive Olympic gold medal ended with a whimper this morning as he crashed out in triple jump qualifying.

The East Londoner, whose fitness has been the focus of so much frenzied speculation in the build-up to the Games, could only manage a best jump of 16.53 metres as he failed to finish in the top 12.

Idowu arrived at the Olympic Stadium preparing to answer the critics who had questioned his readiness for the Games, but was unable to do so as he fell well short of the automatic qualifying mark of 17.10m.