Idowu travels to Beijing seeking gold at the third attempt

British triple jumper Phillips Idowu is finally ready to make his name on the biggest stage, according to former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards.

The world indoor title holder heads to Beijing in a rich vein of form and as a genuine contender, hoping to emulate Edwards' own achievement in 2000.

It will be Idowu's third attempt to win an Olympic medal and Edwards says the time is right to succeed.

"I just feel more confident [about Idowu] than I have ever been," he said.

Triple jump with Phillips Idowu

"We have gone into major championships before tipping Phillips to win a medal and he never has.

"But this time, I think he is ready to shoulder that burden and do it."

Even if he did virtually nothing between now and the Olympics, he could still go and win it because he is in such good shape Jonathan Edwards

But more recently the 29-year-old Londoner set a new British indoor record in March, leaping 17.75m to claim his country's only victory at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

Edwards has urged him to maintain the same level of preparation which has put him among the favourites in Beijing after a successful year which also included victory in the European Cup in France last weekend.

"He has got himself into fantastic shape," Edwards said. "He is the world indoor champion and nearly broke the indoor record and he has started the outdoor season very, very competitively.

"It is the most important competition you have to get ready for, but Phillips has to prepare in the same way he got ready for Valencia.

"He jumped far enough in Valencia to win the Olympic title. If he repeats that, that is all he has to focus on."