Defending Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson has withdrawn from the Beijing Games with a thigh injury.

The news is a blow to the Swedish team, for whom Olsson was one of their main medal hopes in China.

However, it opens the floor for Phillips Idowu - who is regarded as one of Britain's main gold medal contenders and will now be installed among the pre-competition favourites to take the top spot on the rostrum in Beijing.

"I think [Idowu] is definitely the favourite," Olsson told Swedish radio when asked who he believed would replace him as Olympic champion.

"No one else so far has shown they are in any shape and it is only a few weeks away.

"If Phillips can keep going and maybe get better, he will be the biggest favourite in Beijing."

Olsson suffered his latest injury during the IAAF super grand prix meeting in Stockholm, which he was using as his final warm-up event ahead of Beijing.

The 28-year-old's fitness has been an issue since he won gold in Athens four years ago.

And he revealed he is now considering quitting athletics.

"I've suffered from niggling injuries for so long," he said.

"Now I'll have to see if it's going to heal. It's just so difficult at this level.

"Oddly enough, I'm not so disappointed. I've had a fantastic career but now I have to think about what's going to happen in the future."
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