Greg Rutherford is determined to defend his European long jump title but admits he must improve to make it to Berlin.

The 2012 Olympic champion has announced he will retire at the end of the summer and is targeting a third straight European crown in Germany in August.

It would be the perfect send-off for the 31-year-old, who also claimed Olympic bronze in 2016 and the world title in 2015.

I’m incredibly proud of my career. I’ve achieved so much but retirement comes early to those of us for whom sport is a livelihood. It only feels like yesterday I was winning my first major medal but now 12 years on, I sit here as the greatest long jumper Great Britain has ever had, one of the most successful in European history and someone ready to hang the spikes up for good. • I want to thank everyone who’s had a positive impact on my career (but I’d struggle to name everyone here) Most importantly, the greatest coach I could have ever wished for – @danpfaff. My full potential would never have been reached and that Olympic gold medal would never have been won, if it wasn’t for his guidance and input. • I’m going to go for the European Championships one final time. And then I’ll also be jumping in Birmingham and London for the Diamond Leagues. If you fancy coming to watch me compete one last time then please do come on down and give me a wave. It’d be so great to finish with some roaring crowds. • Thank you for all your love and support over the years. It’s been a blast & your kind comments have always given me a push in the right direction. • Grab the @guardian tomorrow to see my exclusive interview with Sean Ingle; we go in to my decision/future plans in further detail there. • @susiejverrill @andrewsteele @aurumsportsgroup @drgerryramogida @andyjburkeuk @melvintann27 @nike … Thank you so much for you help.

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“If my body is not doing what I want it to and it can’t stand the stress then I won’t go to the Europeans,” he told Press Association Sport.

“I will treat the other events as a farewell, which they are becoming, rather than worrying about my performance.

“My brain is partly there already because I want to enjoy everything.

Greg Rutherford knows he must improve to appear at the European Championships (David Davies/PA)
Greg Rutherford knows he must improve to appear at the European Championships (David Davies/PA)

“I would have loved to have kept going but my body isn’t up to it any more. It’s something I can accept. Thankfully I had certain years in my career which went well.

“A lot of athletes hold on too long and you can become a bit of a running joke. I feel I could become that if I held on for another couple of years in the state my body is in.

“I knew what it took to become a world champion but I can’t train like that any more.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful to my competitors by thinking I can still win things by doing 20 per cent less than I used to do.”

He plans to compete at the Birmingham Athletics Championships – which doubles up as trials for the Europeans – at the end of the month and also at the Anniversary Games in London in July.

He added: “I’m trying to take in the sights and enjoy it a bit more. By the time the Anniversary Games come around we’ll probably know if that’s going to be it.

“I don’t want to go out looking terrible but coming out to enjoy those last few moments, I think people will let me off having those.”

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