Greg Rutherford reaches long jump final in Beijing

Rutherford is the fifth Briton, after Daley Thompson, Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell and Jonathan Edwards, to hold all four major titles simultaneously.

Rutherford qualified for today’s final with a leap of 8.25m.

“The most interesting thing has been what the athletes have got to say and I think almost every single one has come up to me and spoken to me privately, supported a lot of the things that I’ve said and told me their own stories of what’s been going on”.

“I heard a few comments that were a little bit harsh on her yesterday, which I think is incredibly unfair”.

“One or two people aren’t speaking to me”, Rutherford said.

After opting for a quiet campaign past year the world champion has struggled this season, enduring unexpected defeat at the British Championships and she sits 13th in the global rankings – not that she is anxious.

In spite of that success, Rutherford has had his fair share of critics in the past, with some branding his Olympic triumph a fluke.

“To be honest I don’t really recall very much”, she said.

“I don’t really look at world lists so I don’t really intend to get too caught up in that now”, she said.

Elsewhere, defending champion Christine Ohuruogu displayed her medal credentials in winning her 400m heat, crossing the line in 51.01 seconds with plenty in reserve. She will be joined in the semi-final by team-mate Anyika Onuora.

Holly Bradshaw, back after a potentially career-threatening back injury, qualified for the pole vault final with 4.55m.

Rutherford recorded a foul in first jump but eased the pressure after recording a huge 8.29m in his second to take the lead ahead of Chinese duo Jianan Wang and Gao Xinglong inside the Bird’s Nest.

Kate Avery finished 15th in the 10,000m in 32:16.19 as Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot took gold.