Newly-crowned world champion Greg Rutherford has admitted that he hopes his success in Beijing brings him the sense of "acceptance" that he has always craved.
The 28-year-old consolidated his place as one of Britain's most decorated athletes after winning gold in the long jump to now hold all four world, Olympic, European and Commonwealth titles.
Rutherford, who won Olympic gold in 2012 by the shortest winning distance in 40 years, claims that he is still doubted over the manner of that triumph.
"My entire life, I've been searching for acceptance," he was quoted as saying by ESPN. "I was that ginger kid. It's hard and it means you've got a big chip on your shoulder for a long time.
"It's hard to understand when people don't like me when all I'm trying to do is do well. That's the thing that I struggle with a little bit.
"I don't want it to be me having to come out and saying, 'I'm not a fluke', and trying to prove people wrong. All I've ever wanted is acceptance."
Daley Thompson, Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell and Jonathan Edwards are the only other four Britons to have managed the grand slam in their respective events.
Shane Callaghan
