Idowu will renew his rivalry with Portugal's Nelson Evora in 2010

Triple-jumper Phillips Idowu believes moving to train in Birmingham was the key decision that led to his World Championship gold medal in Berlin.

The London-born athlete headed to the West Midlands two years ago to work under coach Aston Moore.

"It's had a major influence on my performances, personal bests and gold medals," Idowu, 30, told BBC WM.

"It's working well and hopefully we'll continue that relationship up until and beyond 2012."

Moore previously guided Ashia Hansen to World Indoor and Commonwealth gold medals and Idowu believes he is a coaching legend.

"He sure is, and that's why I'm here. I've known Aston for a long time, and he's a really cool guy," he said.

"He's had success coaching internationally, he had success competing internationally, so it's a natural progression for me."

Idowu will compete in his adopted hometown when the Aviva Grand Prix returns to the National Indoor Arena on 20 February and it is a venue he likes.

"I love competing there and I was disappointed when I couldn't compete last year due to illness," he said.

"I'm looking forward to jumping indoors again again in the NIA - last time I jumped there it was a European indoor record and a gold medal, so hopefully there are bigger and better things to come."

As Idowu has settled into West Midlands life he remains a Hackney boy through-and-through and inevitably has one eye on London's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2012.

"That will definitely be the pinnacle of my career, coming home with an Olympic gold medal in my hometown - it'll be amazing," he said.

"It will be special for any British athlete competing at that time, extra special to me and a few other athletes from Hackney and east London."

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