Jonathan Edwards CBE - Speaker Profile | Celebrity Speakers Jonathan Edwards CBE 2012 Olympic Games Ambassador, Former BBC Sports Personality of the Year Former Olympic Triple Jumper, Commonwealth, European and World Champion, he has held the world record in the event since 1995. Jonathan Edwards currently sits on the board of LOCOG as their athlete representative. He is Chair of the Sports Advisory Group, having played an important part in the success of the London 2012 bid as an Official Ambassador, and a member of the Athletes Advisory Group. He also is a Lloyds TSB London 2012 Ambassador working closely with the bank up to and beyond the London 2012 Olympic. "He had researched the audience thoroughly and his presentation was both interesting and inspirational" Adecco In detail After a career of fifteen years, and accolades including the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Jonathan retired from competitive athletics and turned his attention to broadcasting. After a stint presenting Songs of Praise, he joined the BBC commentary team. He was awarded the MBE in 1996 and the CBE in 2001 in recognition of his achievements.

What he offers you Jonathan offers a specific presentation on the 'Business of the Bid'. As an integral member of the bid team, he offers behind the scenes, information on the construction and implementation of the bid effort. Jonathan is passionate about everything the 2012 Games will do for sport in this country and he translates this in a genuine and inspiring manner. How he presents Jonathan is an accomplished, comfortable and highly experienced professional speaker. He has a relaxed and natural confidence when he presents and is well known for his eloquent, clear and intelligent style. Languages He presents in English. Want to know more? Give us a call or send us an e-mail to find out exactly what he could bring to your event. How to book Jonathan Edwards CBE? Simply phone, fax or e-mail us. Topics Mo Farah must break a world record to be considered great - Daley Thompson | Daily Mail Online comments I thought Mo Farah’s achievement in Moscow, winning 5,000m and 10,000m gold to add to his two Olympic titles, was brilliant.

He is now the best long-distance runner in the world and I think he’s got a range that very few people have ever been able to match, in terms of being competitive at every distance from 1500m to the half marathon — and even moving up to the marathon next year. Sebastian Coe has said he thinks Mo is now without doubt the greatest British athlete in history, but I would have to agree with Steve Cram: I think Mo has moved up even higher towards that category of all-time greats but whether he’s the greatest or not is still a question of interpretation. Flying the flag: Mo Farah celebrates winning the 5000m world title in Moscow THE TIMES FARAH HAS TO RUN... Kenenisa Bekele’s world records 5000m 12mins 37.35s Mo Farah’s best times 5000m 12mins 53.11s 10000m 26mins 46.57s That makes for a great argument down the pub because people will always side with characters they liked, or athletes from their era who they loved to watch, which is fantastic for our sport.

Personally, I would still put Coe right up there because he won so many titles and set nine outdoor world records. Then there’s myself, Sally Gunnell and Jonathan Edwards — the only British athletes to have held Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles at the same time and set world records, too. That’s the sort of utter dominance we’re talking about to be considered one of the greats. Fly Mo: Farah crosses the line after winning the 5000m at the World Championships Mo is getting up there now but is he a better distance runner than Edwards was a triple jumper? Edwards was an unbelievable athlete but he only had one chance at glory in every major Championships, while his world record — 18.29m set at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg — still stands today. Someone like Mo can double up, difficult though that is, and win two medals at every Championships. Usain Bolt, for example, has already equalled Carl Lewis by winning his eighth world title in Moscow and yet he’s done it in only four years. Mo has got to come back and do it again, at another Olympics or World Championships, to be considered one of the all-time greats.

Setting the standard: Usain Bolt has already equaled Carl Lewis' eight world titles in just four years By retaining his 5,000m title in Moscow he won his fifth global title but they’ve all come in just over two years. You couldn’t do that at one stage because the World Championships did not start until 1983 and initially they were held every four years. It would have taken him a lot longer and been much harder for Mo to notch up those titles. MO FARAH - 5,000M AND 10,000M Olympic gold 2 Commonwealth gold 0 World records 0 If he wants to be up there as one of the greatest distance runners in history, alongside the likes of Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, then he has also got to break world records. Mo’s got to run times that means he is the fastest athlete there has ever been. I think he can do it, maybe setting his sights on a world record in the marathon next year and then coming back to concentrate on the track again in 2015. At the moment it feels like there’s nothing Mo can’t do.

He’s completely turned around the perception of distance running. A couple of years ago the Europeans were frightened of the Africans. But now Mo and his American training partner Galen Rupp are kicking butt. All the Kenyans and Ethiopians are scared of Great Britain now, while Rupp is proving white guys can compete over the longer distances, too. Mo now has the chance to become the greatest distance runner the world has ever seen and enhance his claim to be the greatest British athlete in history. How fantastic is that? SIMPLY THE BEST: THE FOUR BRIITSH ATHLETES WHO BROKE RECORDS DALEY THOMPSON - DECATHLON Jonathan Edwards , Athlete • Biography & Facts Jonathan Edwards Athlete Jonathan David Edwards , CBE, (born 10 May 1966 in London) is a former British triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995. Following his retirement as an athlete, Edwards has worked as an athletics commentator and presenter for BBC television.

Formerly a devout Christian, he also presented episodes of the BBC Christian worship programme Songs of Praise, until he gave up these views in 2007. He is a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. Personal facts Jonathan Edwards talks about his Faith - YouTube Jonathan Edwards talks about his Faith Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Aug 15, 2012 Jonathan David Edwards CBE Born 10 May 1966, London. He is a former British triple jumper and has held the world record in the event since 1995. He won Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 1995 & 2001 World Championships, 1998 European Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games. In 1995 he became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Formerly a devout Christian, he also presented episodes of the BBC Christian worship programme Songs of Praise, until he renounced his faith in 2007. He is a member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He initially refused to compete on Sundays due to his devout Christian beliefs, a decision which cost him a chance to compete in the 1991 World Championships. However in 1993, after much deliberation and discussion with his father (a vicar), he changed his mind, deciding that God gave him his talent in order for him to compete in athletics. He once said "My relationship with Jesus and God is fundamental to everything I do. I have made a commitment and dedication in that relationship to serve God in every area of my life." In an interview in The Times in June 2007, Edwards said: If there is no God, does that mean that life has no purpose? Does it mean that personal existence ends at death? They are thoughts that do my head in. One thing that I can say, however, is that even if I am unable to discover some fundamental purpose to life, this will not give me a reason to return to Christianity.

Just because something is unpalatable does not mean that it is not true. Furthermore, in the interview with The Times he also stated "When you think about it rationally, it does seem incredibly improbable that there is a God." In the same interview he also said "I feel internally happier than at any time of my life." Jonathan Edwards on Twitter: @JDE66 Category About: Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper) About: Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper) An Entity of Type : athlete , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org Jonathan David Edwards, CBE (born 10 May 1966 in London) is a former triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995. Property abstract Jonathan David Edwards, CBE (born 10 May 1966 in London) is a former triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995. Following his retirement as an athlete, Edwards has worked as a sports (primarily athletics) commentator and presenter for BBC television.

Formerly a devout Christian, he also presented episodes of the BBC Christian worship programme Songs of Praise, until he renounced his faith in 2007. In 2011 he was elected President of Wenlock Olympian Society following the death of its then President, Roy Rogers. He was a member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the 2012 games. (en) Jonathan David Edwards, CBE (* 10. Mai 1966 in London) ist ein ehemaliger britischer Dreispringer und Olympiasieger. Er ist der aktuelle Weltrekordhalter im Dreisprung und war 1995 der erste Dreispringer der Welt, der über 18 Meter sprang. Edwards wurde als Sohn eines Vikars geboren. Sein erster Auftritt bei internationalen Wettkämpfen war mit einigen Hindernissen gespickt. Wegen seines damals streng christlichen Glaubens weigerte er sich zunächst, an Wettkämpfen teilzunehmen, die an einem Sonntag ausgetragen wurden.

Dadurch verpasste er die Chance zur Teilnahme an den Leichtathletik-Weltmeisterschaften 1991. Bei den Olympischen Spielen 1992 in Barcelona schied er in der Qualifikation aus. Zwei Jahre später, nach zahlreichen Diskussionen mit seinem Vater, änderte er diese Haltung. Er kam zu der Überzeugung, dass Gott ihm das Talent gegeben habe, um es auch im Wettkampf unter Beweis zu stellen. Bei den Weltmeisterschaften 1993 startete er in der Qualifikationsrunde erstmals an einem Sonntag und gewann im Finale Bronze. Im Vorfeld der Weltmeisterschaften 1995 verbesserte Edwards am 18. Juli 1995 in Salamanca den zehn Jahre alten Weltrekord des US-Amerikaners Willie Banks um einen Zentimeter auf die neue Weite von 17,98 m.

Der Wettkampf bei den Weltmeisterschaften in Göteborg drei Wochen später ging in die Geschichte ein: Mit seinem ersten Sprung landete Edwards bei der neuen Weltrekordweite von 18,16 m. 20 Minuten später verbesserte er in seinem zweiten Sprung den Rekord um weitere 13 Zentimeter und wurde mit dieser Weite von 18,29 m erstmals Weltmeister. Den Mercedes, den er als Prämie für den Gewinn des Weltmeistertitels erhielt, verkaufte Edwards und stiftete den Erlös in Höhe von 70.000 Euro unter Hinweis auf eine solche Familientradition für wohltätige Zwecke. Im gleichen Jahr wurde er von der BBC zum Sportler des Jahres gewählt. Bei den Olympischen Spielen 1996 in Atlanta musste sich Edwards dem US-Amerikaner Kenny Harrison geschlagen geben und gewann die Silbermedaille.

Auch in den folgenden Jahren stand er wiederholt bei internationalen Meisterschaften auf dem Treppchen: 1997 gewann er bei den Weltmeisterschaften in Athen Silber, 1998 sowohl bei den Halleneuropameisterschaften in Valencia wie auch bei den Europameisterschaften in Budapest Gold und 1999 bei den Weltmeisterschaften in Sevilla Bronze. Dem Sieg bei Olympischen Spielen 2000 in Sydney folgte im Jahr darauf die Silbermedaille bei den Hallenweltmeisterschaften in Lissabon und der zweite Weltmeistertitel bei den Weltmeisterschaften in Edmonton. 2002 gewann er Gold bei den Commonwealth Games in Manchester und Bronze bei den Europameisterschaften in München. Nach den Weltmeisterschaften 2003 in Paris/Saint-Denis, wo er nach einer Knöchelverletzung mit 16,31 m nur den zwölften Platz erreichte, beendete er seine Karriere.

Edwards, der 1987 erfolgreich ein Physikstudium an der University of Durham abschloss, schlug nach der Karriere eine Laufbahn in der Medienbranche ein und präsentierte bis 2007 im Fernsehprogramm der BBC die Sendung Songs of Praise, in der christliche Lieder gesungen wurden. Inzwischen hat Edwards sich vom Christentum und vom Glauben an göttliche Entitäten distanziert. Edwards wirkte zudem als Vorstandsmitglied des London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), das für die Planung und Organisation der Olympischen Spiele und der Paralympics 2012 in London verantwortlich war. (de) Jonathan David Edwards, né le à Londres, est un athlète britannique spécialiste du triple saut. Champion olympique, champion du monde, champion d'Europe et champion du Commonwealth, il a remporté les quatre titres majeurs auxquels peut postuler un athlète du Royaume-Uni.

Il détient l'actuel record du monde de la discipline depuis le mondial de Göteborg en 1995, compétition où il devient le premier athlète à dépasser 18 mètres en conditions régulières avant d'améliorer une deuxième fois sa marque avec un saut à 18,29 m. Durant sa carrière, il aura figuré en tête des bilans mondiaux de 1995 à 2002, seul le Cubain Yoelbi Quesada interrompant cette série en 1997. Il est surnommé par certains médias « le Goéland », allusion au livre Jonathan Livingston le goéland. (fr) Jonathan David Edwards, CBE (Londres, Inglaterra, 10 de mayo de 1966) es un atleta británico especialista en triple salto. Ganó la medalla de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de Sídney 2000, y tiene la plusmarca mundial de la especialidad con 18,29 m desde 1995.

Actualmente co-conduce las elecciones de sedes de los Juegos Olímpicos. (es) جوناثان إدواردز (بالإنجليزية: Jonathan Edwards) مواليد 10 مايو 1966(1966-05-10) في ونزر، باركشير، إنجلترا، هو لاعب قفز ثلاثي بريطاني. مثل بلاده في الأولمبياد وحصل على الميدالية الذهبية والميدالية الفضية. فاز بالميدالية الذهبية في بطولة العالم لألعاب القوى. فاز بجائزة أفضل لاعب قوى في أوروبا.

(ar) ジョナサン・エドワーズ（Sir Jonathan Edwards, 1966年5月10日 - ）は、イギリス・ウィンザー出身の元陸上競技選手。2000年シドニーオリンピック男子三段跳の金メダリストで、現在の世界記録18m29cm（6m05-5m22-7m02）保持者である。 ダラム大学で物理学を専攻し、卒業後、ロイヤル・ビクトリア病院で遺伝子研究の仕事に就きながら三段跳の練習をしていたが、1994年に病院を退職し競技に専念する。敬虔なクリスチャンで、1991年の世界陸上東京大会では、競技日が日曜日だったため「日曜日は安息日であり、私は、神の定めた安息日に競技を行うことはできない」として欠場したが、1993年大会からは、考えを改め「自分の才能を通じ、周囲

の人々を明るく幸せにするのもクリスチャンとしての義務」と日曜日の大会にも出場するようになった。 1995年7月にスペインのサラマンカで17m98の世界記録を樹立。同年の世界陸上イェーテボリ大会では1回目の跳躍で18m16、2回目の跳躍で18m29と連続で世界記録を更新した。翌1996年のアトランタオリンピックでも優勝が期待されたが、ケニー・ハリソン（アメリカ）が五輪新記録の18m09を跳んで優勝。エドワーズは2位だった。 その後、2000年のシドニーオリンピックで優勝を果たし、大英帝国勲章（CBE）を受けた。さらに2002年に、コモンウェルスゲームズで優勝したことにより、オリンピック、世界陸上競技選手権大会、ヨーロッパ陸上競技選手権大会、コモンウェルス

ゲームズの4大会全てで金メダルを獲得した。これは1993年のリンフォード・クリスティの達成に続き、2人目である。 2003年パリの世界陸上を最後に引退。「ケガをした時は選手生命が終わったと思ったが、競技に出場できる状態まで回復したのは奇跡だ。神がもう一度跳ぶ機会を与えてくれた今大会で競技生活を終わりたい。」と語った。 (ja) Jonathan David Edwards (ur.

10 maja 1966 w Londynie) – brytyjski lekkoatleta, specjalista od trójskoku. Wielokrotny medalista wielkich światowych imprez lekkoatletycznych, do niego należy aktualny rekord świata w tej konkurencji. Edwards, pochodzący z religijnej, protestanckiej rodziny (jego ojciec jest pastorem), odmawiał początkowo startów w niedzielę. Ta decyzja kosztowała go m.in. utratę szansy zdobycia medalu podczas mistrzostw świata w 1991 w Tokio. Jednak po wielu dyskusjach z ojcem, zmienił zdanie, stwierdzając, że otrzymał od Boga dar, który musi wykorzystać. Tym razem podczas mistrzostw w 1993 w Stuttgarcie wystąpił, chociaż runda kwalifikacyjna odbywała się właśnie w niedzielę.

W finale zajął ostatecznie trzecie miejsce. Wcześniej w tym roku, na halowych mistrzostwach świata w Toronto był siódmy. Na mistrzostwach Europy w 1994 w Helsinkach zajął 6. miejsce. Zdobył srebrne medale na igrzyskach Wspólnoty Narodów w 1990 w Auckland i w 1994 w Victorii. Do historii lekkoatletyki przeszedł występ Edwardsa podczas mistrzostw świata w 1995 w Göteborgu, kiedy to w pierwszym swoim skoku w finale konkursu jako pierwszy trójskoczek w historii pokonał barierę 18 m (18,16 m). Nowy rekord świata przetrwał 20 minut, kiedy to Edwards skoczył jeszcze dalej osiągając odległość 18,29 m.

Na swych trzecich igrzyskach olimpijskich w 1996 w Atlancie (w Seulu w 1988 i w Barcelonie w 1992 odpadał w eliminacjach) Edwards zdobył srebrny medal przegrywając z Kennym Harrisonem z USA. Podobnie srebrny medal wywalczył na mistrzostwach świata w 1997 w Atenach (tym razem przegrał z Yoelbim Quesadą z Kuby). W 1998 zwyciężył na halowych mistrzostwach Europy w Walencji oraz na mistrzostwach Europy w Budapeszcie. Na mistrzostwach świata w 1999 w Sewilli zajął 3. miejsce. W wieku 34 lat zdobył złoty medal na igrzyskach olimpijskich w 2000 w Sydney.

Na halowych mistrzostwach świata w 2001 w Lizbonie został srebrnym medalistą. Zwyciężył na mistrzostwach świata w 2001 w Edmonton. Także na igrzyskach Wspólnoty Narodów w 2002 w Manchesterze zajął 1. miejsce. Na mistrzostwach Europy w 2002 w Monachium zdobył brązowy medal. Zajął 4. miejsce na halowych mistrzostwach świata w 2003 w Birmingham. Po nieudanym występie na mistrzostwach świata w 2003 (12. miejsce) podjął decyzję o zakończeniu kariery. Były trójskoczek prowadził religijny program muzyczny Songs of Praise w brytyjskiej telewizji BBC.

Jednak w lutym 2007 ogłosił, że utracił wiarę w Boga i zakończył współpracę z tym programem. (pl) Jonathan David Edwards (Londen, 10 mei 1966) is een voormalige Engelse atleet, die gespecialiseerd was in het hink-stap-springen. Hij was de eerste atleet die meer dan achttien meter sprong. Hij nam viermaal deel aan de Olympische Spelen en verbeterde driemaal het wereldrecord bij het hink-stap-springen. Zijn laatste maal was in 1995 met 18,29 m in Göteborg. Dit wereldrecord staat nog altijd (peildatum augustus 2015). (nl) Jonathan David Edwards, (Londres, 10 de maio de 1966) é um ex-atleta britânico, especialista em triplo salto. Foi um dos maiores triplistas da história e um dos maiores atletas britânicos.

Venceu todas as provas possíveis e é o detentor do recorde mundial. Foi campeão olímpico, bicampeão mundial e campeão europeu. Foi o primeiro homem a saltar mais de 18 metros. O seu recorde (18,29 m) data de 1995. Actualmente representa os atletas no Comité de Organização dos Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2012. (pt) 莊拿芬·大衛·愛華士，CBE（Jonathan David Edwards，1966年5月10日－）生於英格蘭倫敦，是前英國三級跳運動員，被廣泛認為是歷來最佳的三級跳運動員。爱德华兹自1995年即保有該項目的世界纪录及是奧運金牌運動員。 (zh) Джонатан Дэвид Эдвардс (англ. Jonathan David Edwards, род.

10 мая 1966 года в Лондоне) — британский легкоатлет, специализировавшийся в тройном прыжке, олимпийский чемпион и действующий рекордсмен мира с 1995 года, двукратный чемпион мира и двукратный чемпион Европы. Командор ордена Британской империи CBE (2000). (ru) Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK (en) comment Jonathan David Edwards, CBE (Londres, Inglaterra, 10 de mayo de 1966) es un atleta británico especialista en triple salto. Ganó la medalla de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de Sídney 2000, y tiene la plusmarca mundial de la especialidad con 18,29 m desde 1995. Actualmente co-conduce las elecciones de sedes de los Juegos Olímpicos.

(es) جوناثان إدواردز (بالإنجليزية: Jonathan Edwards) مواليد 10 مايو 1966(1966-05-10) في ونزر، باركشير، إنجلترا، هو لاعب قفز ثلاثي بريطاني. مثل بلاده في الأولمبياد وحصل على الميدالية الذهبية والميدالية الفضية. فاز بالميدالية الذهبية في بطولة العالم لألعاب القوى. فاز بجائزة أفضل لاعب قوى في أوروبا. (ar) Jonathan David Edwards (Londen, 10 mei 1966) is een voormalige Engelse atleet, die gespecialiseerd was in het hink-stap-springen. Hij was de eerste atleet die meer dan achttien meter sprong. Hij nam viermaal deel aan de Olympische Spelen en verbeterde driemaal het wereldrecord bij het hink-stap-springen. Zijn laatste maal was in 1995 met 18,29 m in Göteborg.

Dit wereldrecord staat nog altijd (peildatum augustus 2015). (nl) Jonathan Edwards (athlete) biography, Athletics career Jonathan Edwards (athlete) : biography 10 May 1966 - Jonathan David Edwards, CBE, (born 10 May 1966 in London) is a former British triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995. Following his retirement as an athlete, Edwards has worked as an athletics commentator and presenter for BBC television. Formerly a devout Christian, he also presented episodes of the BBC Christian worship programme Songs of Praise, until he renounced his faith in 2007. He was a member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Athletics career Due to his strong Christian beliefs during his athletic career, discussed in more detail below, he initially refused to compete on Sundays, independent.co.uk but eventually decided to do so in 1993. This decision proved timely, since the qualifying round at that year's World Championships took place on a Sunday. He went on to win the bronze medal.

In his breakthrough year of 1995, Edwards produced a jump of 18.43 m (60 feet 5½ inches) at the European Cup. The leap was wind assisted and did not count for record purposes, but it was a sign of things to come as he capped an unbeaten year with a historic gold medal performance at the World Championships, in which he broke the world record twice in the same meeting. On his first jump, he became the first man to legally pass the 18-metre barrier with a jump of 18.16 m (59 feet 7&nbsp;inches). That record lasted for about 20 minutes. His second jump of 18.29 m made him the first to jump 60 feet. During his commentary for the 2008 Summer Olympics, Edwards observed that during the 1995 World Championships, he felt as if 'he could jump as far as he needed to'. Later the same year Edwards became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

During 1996 Edwards went into the Olympic Games as favourite and world record holder, but it was American Kenny Harrison who took the gold with a jump of 18.09 m. Edwards walked away with the silver after a leap of 17.88 m (the longest ever jump not to win gold). Edwards won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games, and was appointed a CBE shortly afterwards. He also won golds at the 2001 World Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games. At one point in 2002, Edwards held all the gold medals for the "four majors" (Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games & European Championships). He retired after the 2003 World Championships as Great Britain's most successful medal winning athlete. Post-athletics career Following his retirement, Edwards has pursued a media career as a television presenter mainly working for the BBC as a sports commentator and presenter, and on programmes such as Songs of Praise until he gave up this programme, due to his loss of faith, in February 2007. Edwards regularly presents BBC coverage of Athletics, deputising for Gabby Logan.

When he is not presenting coverage, Edwards often provides expert analysis on field events as part of the BBC commentary team. Edwards also served as a presenter for the Olympic Announcement ceremonies during the IOC Sessions in Guatemala in 2007 and Copenhagen in 2009. In 2004, Edwards joined with Paula Radcliffe on an Olympic Special Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The pair raised £64,000 for charity with half of that sum going to the British Olympic Association and a quarter of the sum going to Asthma UK. medicalnewstoday.com He was a member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, representing athletes in the organisation of the 2012 Summer Olympics. london2012.com Awards An honorary doctorate was conferred upon him at a ceremony at the University of Exeter on 21 January 2006. exeter.ac.uk Later in the same year, an honorary doctorate of the university (DUniv) was conferred upon him at the winter graduation ceremony of the University of Ulster (19 December 2006).

ulster.ac.uk Education Edwards attended West Buckland School isbi.com where his potential for the triple jump was spotted at an early age. He was a strong all-rounder and on leaving received the school's top award for sporting and academic excellence, the Fortescue Medal. Contemporaries with Edwards at West Buckland School included Victor Ubogu and Steve Ojomoh, both former Bath and England Rugby international players. Edwards now has a Sports Hall at West Buckland named after him; The Jonathan Edwards Sports Centre. Edwards then read Physics at Durham University, attending Van Mildert College. British Athletics Official Website | Jonathan Edwards Coach(s): Carl Johnson, Norman Anderson and Peter Stanley. Â Â Decision Time Jonathan Edwards took triple jumping to another level in the summer of 1995, where he established a world record which could last more than one generation. When he leapt 18.29m, he became the first athlete to clear 60ft for this event and since then only other athlete, American Kenny Harrison, has cleared the 18m-barrier - and he did that to beat Edwards to Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996.

Edwards achieved his success in a career where this vicarâs son, as a committed Christian,Â at first heÂ chose not to compete on Sundays, passing the chance of taking part in the World Championships in 1991. But by Stuttgart in 1993, he had changed his mind, which proved a fortunate decision because the qualifying round of the triple jump at the World Championships was on a Sunday. He progressed safely to the final, where he took the bronze medal and it proved the foundation to greatness.Â Â Itâs Longâ¦Itâs Very Long Edwards had first jumped 16m in 1986 and progressed rapidly to become the best triple jumper in Britain by 1989, when he burst into world class and was third at the World Cup with 17.28m. In 1990 his form was affected by an injured right ankle, but he won the Commonwealth silver medal, a feat he repeated in 1994. He won the World Cup in 1992, but the sensational part of his amazing 1995 was the fact it was so unexpected.

Â The previous summer he had finished sixth at the European Championships in Helsinki before winning silver at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, solid-enough performances but nothing to say that 12 months later he would become untouchable. Edwards had fabulous speed on the runway. It is believed he was even quicker than Linford Christie, Britainâs 1992 Olympic 100m champion, over 20m - and combining that with his slick hop, skipping and jumping, it became an unbeatable package. He had started the outdoor season with a British record 17.58m, having achieved a wind-assisted best of 17.70m in 1993. But it was at the European Cup in Lille, ironically on a Sunday, that Britain realised it had a phenomenon on its hands. His series was 17.90m(w), an amazing 18.43m(w,+2.4), 17.72m with a legal wind to add 14 cm to his British record, and 18.39m(w,+3.7).

The previous longest ever jump was 18.20 m (w,+5.2) by American Willie Banks at Indianapolis in 1988 who also held the world record of 17.97m. Â His best of 18.43m (w) was comprised ofÂ a 6.50m hop, a 5.60m step and a 6.33m jump and the world record was not too far away. It came at Salamanca, Spain, when he jumped 17.98m, before the World Championships in Gothenburg became his finest hour. Edwards was at his peak. His speed was remarkable on that afternoon in Sweden and his first jump blew away the rest of the competition. He jumped 18.16m, smashing his world record, and then in the second round, he went even further, clearing 18.29m. He had recorded the first legal 18m and 60ft jumps with legal wind and ended the year unbeaten in 14 competitions.

He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the LâEquipe International Champion of ChampionsÂ and he wasÂ the IAAF Male Athlete of 1995. But often he recalled how his âfameâ hit him most when he was shopping at the Metro Centre near his home in Gateshead, when suddenly he was mobbed by people who just wanted to congratulate him.Â Â Olympics Here We Come One of the difficulties Edwards faced was the level of expectation and while he entered the Olympic Games in Atlanta as favourite, it was not to be. It was there that his run of 22 successive wins was ended by Harrison, whose 18.09m beat Edwards into silver by 21 centimetres. He remained optimistic that he would be still be around at this level for Sydney four years later, but before that he had to battle through some of the most traumatic times of his career. In 1997, the defence of his world title in Athens saw him finish second before he had keyhole surgery on his left ankle at the end of the 1998 season, forcing him to miss the Commonwealth Games, though he had finally lifted the European title in Budapest.

He won nine of his 12 competitions in 1999, although he was left disappointed by finishing third at the World Championships in Seville, an event which ended with him and wife Alison cuddling by the trackside, during a difficult time for their family because of his mother-in-law being ill. In 2000, he was the World No 1 again, but days before the Games were about to start, his mother-in-law died. Edwards contemplated returning home. He was told to stay, andÂ fuelled upÂ with even more emotion and dedication to the cause, he won the gold medal. His moment arrived in the third round, with a jump of 17.71m, the best in the world and further proof of the way he had shown how mentally he could climb through the barrier of not winning a global title since 1995.He was back, and though he had to settle for silver at the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon with 17.26m as Paolo Camossi won with 17.32m, outdoors he reigned supreme again.

After securing a place in the World championship final in Edmonton with the last of his three jumps in qualifying, he then leapt 17.92m to become only the second Briton to regain a world title (Colin Jackson in 1999 was the other).Â Â Manchester Calling The main gold medal to elude Edwards was the Commonwealth Games title, but he put that right on a Sunday evening in Manchester in 2002. Londoner Phillips Idowu had been fast progressing as the man who one day would succeed him as British No 1 and here he led the competition with 17.68m. Edwards took to the runway, looked around, knew his time had come again and in the third round set a world-leading mark of 17.86m to complete the set of the four majors. Christian Olsson, of Sweden, who had sat in the stand in his home city of Gothenburg in 1995 watching Edwardsâ exploits, was the new kid on the block and he won the European title in Munich in 17.53m as the British star finished third with 17.32m.

In 2003,Â Edwards made a late start to his outdoor campaign, but then produced an amazing 17.61m, his best ever seasonâs opener, in the Gateshead with an even bigger no jump in the third round in the competition won by Olsson with 17.92m (w).Â He was third at Stockholm with 17.14m and at the London Grand Prix with 17.19m, yet in the latter he sustained an ankle injury and was carried off. A scan showed no break and he was able to compete at the World Championships in Paris, qualifying with 16.94m, but he took only two jumps in the final, thus ending his wonderful career in anti-climatic fashion, last with 16.31m. He has moved into television, as an athletics commentator on the BBC and as the presenter of the Sunday evening religious show Songs Of Praise. He received an MBE in 1995 and CBE in 2000, but still there is no sign of his world record being eclipsed.

Â International Championships at triple jump 1987: 9th World University Games 1988: dnq 23rd Olympics

Question: Who is a former British triple jumper who held the Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World records, and has held the world record in the event since 1995?
Answer: Jonathan Edwards