Achike's personal ambition

Achike has achieved the Olympic standard

Former world junior champion Larry Achike believes that he will be more than a suitable replacement for Jonathan Edwards in this weekend's European Cup in Gateshead.

Edwards, who has been enduring a poor run of form this season, pulled out of the forthcoming event in the north-east much to the disappointment of his adopted home crowd.

Achike last week cleared a personal best of 17.16 metres and is adamant that he will give the other competitors a run for their money.

"This is my big opportunity. The world's best will be in opposition," said Achike.

Then in Zagreb it was just like a big bang

  Larry Achike

"Believe me I will be aiming to achieve a victory and getting maximum points come rain or shine."

The 1998 Commonwealth Games champion having graduated with a bio-medical science degree is now able to concentrate on his athletics career and will be buoyed by the fact that not only did he set a career best but also reached the Olympic qualifying standard.

Confidence booster

The 25-year-old, coached by Britain's 1982 European triple jump champion Keith Connor, explained that the leap in Zagreb has been a great confidence booster.

"I was forever tired. The two just didn't go together," added Achike.

"Then in Zagreb it was just like a big bang. It gave me a great surprise to jump a lifetime best as I had been in a heavy training period and not performing very well.

"But before that, most of my competitions had been in wet and cold conditions so it wasn't surprising. But winning and also getting the Olympic qualifier was very pleasing.

"It has boosted my confidence and in the third round I had a massive jump disallowed.

"Now I think I'm definitely on the way up and through the bad times. All I need now is the competitions and after Zagreb hopefully I'll be able to get into the bigger ones.

"But I also need to sort out my finances for the overseas meetings. After making the World Championship final I thought UK Athletics might have paid for me to go abroad more often."