Andrew Howe determined to defend title in Barcelona – European Athletics (EAA) – News

Italy's Andrew Howe has had a frustrating 18-month battle with an Achilles tendon problem but the reigning European Long Jump champion believes he will still be in shape to defend his title at this year's Championships.

"In Barcelona, I will aim for the gold medal in the Long Jump. I'm the current European champion and I'm convinced I can do it," said Howe, in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Friday.

The 2010 European Athletics Championships will be held in Barcelona between 26 July – 1 August.

"I have no special fears (about the injury), only the desire to take back my space. At least in Europe, I'll always be thought of as among the best ever. There's the Frenchman (Salim) Sdiri and the very good German (Sebastian) Bayer but they will still have to deal with Howe," joked the man whose Italian record of 8.47m when taking the 2007 World Championships silver medal has not been bettered outdoors by a European jumper since.

Howe aims to be ready to compete with the best in Europe, and the rest of the world, by the time of the 30th Golden Gala meeting in Rome on June 10, the second European stop on the new IAAF Diamond League circuit.

Having only managed three Long Jump competitions last year, he decided to give the World Championships in Berlin a miss because he was not in shape to be a medal contender after getting second place in Osaka two years ago.

Now, he is champing at the bit to compete but has had to take things slowly, at least as far as his technical work is concerned.

By contrast, he is in great shape as a sprinter and will also be looking to do some 100m and 200m races after Barcelona.

It's worth remembering that, at the 2004 World Junior Championships, Howe not only won the Long Jump title but also took the 200m gold medal in front of delighted home fans in the Italian town of Grosseto.

"The surgery that I've had reminds me that I'm an athlete. It also means just that, for now, I'm not yet in a position to jump and but by working on my speed I can complete my course of physical rehabilitation. From what I've done in the past, I think I'm in shape to run between 10.10 to 10.20, that is not too bad," he added.

"I was a sprinter when I was young, I've always had speed in my legs. However, my most important priority at the moment is winning the Long Jump gold medal in Barcelona and then we'll see what happens after that.

"But I've always liked challenges and I feel good. I don't think about the surgery that I had last September any more," reflected Howe.

He didn't reveal his thoughts on the subject but perhaps Howe is starting to take a harder look at his prospects of attacking Pietro Mennea's long standing Italian 100m record, and former European record, of 10.01 which has been there since 1979.

 European Athletics (EAA) – News