The 29-year-old triple jumper is the favourite for the Olympic gold medal in Beijing and has outstanding major championship credentials to his name already as he is the current European and world indoor champion.

Taking over the considerable mantle of his fellow country man Jonathan Edwards, Idowu is leading the World in his event in 2008, and is also unbeaten this season.

In June he jumped a then World leading distance of 17.55 metres to win a European Athletics permit meeting in Chania, Greece and followed this with a scintillating 17.46m victory at the Spar European Cup in Annecy in June, a performance which won him the Athlete of the Cup award.

The women's award went to Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic.

The European Athlete of the Month initiative was launched in January 2007 and is designed to recognise outstanding performers at all levels of the sport in Europe.

European Athletics will name a male and female winner each month and feature the athlete on its website.

Selections are based on votes by the public, the media and a panel of European Athletics experts with each counting for 33.3 per cent of the final vote.