Jonathan Edwards

World record holder triple jumper. Olympic and World champion.

Entered to athletics field when he studying West Buckland School. Ousted his initial international final in Zagreb (Universiade 1987), but spotted first in Commonwealth Games 1990 as secured a bronze medal. He won another Com-Games medal in 1994 and a World Champs bronze in Stuttgart.

But his outstanding achievements were in 1995. The beginning of the storm was 'windy'. Edwards leapt longest jump ever in his event with 18.43m in French city Villeneuve d'Ascq in European Cup, but it's not counted as a world record by 2.4 wind assistance. 22 days later, he broke Willie Banks' 10-year old world record by only one centimeter (17.98) in Salamanca (July 18). He added two more world record to his tally in Göteborg - became first-ever legal jumper over 18 metres in triple jump. In same competition, Edwards broke his record twice, first 18.16, then 18.29m, which is still stands on the list.

Following his superb performances in '95 summer, he continued to compete in highest level. Despite losing to American rival Kenny Harrison in Atlanta, he secured to eluded Olympic gold in Sydney at age of 34.

He won once more in World title in 2001, his fifth medal in the championships. Concluded his outstanding career with last missing piece of the collection, a Commonwealth gold that won in Manchester 2002.

Retired after his sixth World Champs appearances in Paris.

TRIVIA
♦ Studied in Physics at Durham University.
♦ He has 129 competitions over 17 metres (according to Tilastopaja website)
♦ He was known with strong Christian beliefs, which sometimes prevents him to compete in Sundays, even he refused to go to World Champs 1991. He changed his mind in 1993 to believing 'God gave him a talent order him to compete in athletics'.
♦ Despite his strong beliefs and even making a Christian Songs programme on BBC until 2007, he insisted to lost his faith in some interviews. (Mirror News, 27.02.2014) 
♦ Very interestingly, he is sharing the same name with famous American Christian theologian Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).
♦ Wife, Alison. Sons, Nathan and Sam.
♦ Works on BBC as a sports presenter.
♦ In 1995, he won "BBC Sports Personality of The Year", "IAAF World Athlete of The Year" and "L'Equipe Champion of Champions" awards.
♦ QUOTE: "If you look back on the footage (in Gothenburg 1995 with my first jump) you can see I've got a big smile on my face. It's interesting because as my career progressed I became known for not doing very many jumps, basically once I'd got one out and won a competition that was it, I'd done what I needed to do. Fear is the greatest motivator, and I think the second round was certainly that." (BBC Wales interview, 2012)