Idowu won gold at the World Indoor Championships in 2008 (Getty)

The World Indoor triple jump champion Phillips Idowu said if he does not win gold at the Beijing Olympics, he will not regard 2008 as a successful year.

Idowu is among the favourites to take gold at this year's games after winning the World Indoor title last month.

The 29-year-old told BBC London 94.9: "If I don't have that Olympic gold medal, I don't think 2008 will have been a successful year for me.

"Despite winning the world indoor title and breaking the British record.

The Londoner's jump at the Indoor Championships in Valencia measured 17.75 metres, the fifth longest in history.

That competition in March this year was when Phillips Idowu finally came of age and produced the kind of jump most people knew he had it in him.

I now just need to go out and win all those world, Olympic and European titles Phillips Idowu

It was a jump to silence those who questioned his mental strength and his ability to produce on the big stage.

And to receive the gold medal from the former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards was the icing on the cake.

"It was a nice touch," said Idowu.

"It felt special knowing I had won something Jonathan didn't win in his career. I now just need to go out and win all those world, Olympic and European titles!"

Idowu admits he enjoyed all the attention following his victory in Valencia, but as soon as he had completed his lap of honour, his attention turned to Beijing.

Having finished sixth in the Sudney Olympics in 2000, Idowu's only other Games experience in Athens four year ago ended in disappointment.

Surgery on a knee injury had kept him out of the 2003 season and despite making a full recovery, he posted three no-jumps in the final.

606: DEBATE What do you think about Idowu's Olympic chances?

He is determined not to do the same this time round and hopes the reigning champion Christian Olsson will be there to defend his title.

He also has no qualms about going to Beijing, despite the growing protests over China's human right record and policy on Tibet.

"I don't have any problems about going," he says.

"We're going there to compete. Our job is to entertain and put on a display. We should keep our business on the track and the politics to the politicians."

His gold medal in Valencia was his first world title but, being a triple jumper, he only does things in threes.

He is already looking forward to winning gold two and three. His dream is to win Olympic gold in his own back yard in London in 2012 - as defending champion.