On 7 August 1995 in Gothenburg, Jonathan Edwards jumped 18.29 metres to set a triple jump world record that still stands more than 30 years later. Twenty minutes earlier he had become the first man to jump 18 metres legally.
Add Olympic gold in Sydney, two world titles and the 1995 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, and Edwards ranks among Britain's greatest athletes. Explore our athletics collection.
Jonathan Edwards Fact File
| Full name | Jonathan David Edwards |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 May 1966 (age 60) |
| Place of birth | Westminster, London, England |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) |
| Event | Triple jump |
| Nationality | British |
| Club | Gateshead Harriers |
| Personal best | 18.29 m (world record, 1995) |
| Status | Retired 2003; broadcaster |
| Honours | CBE |
Career History
| Year | Championship | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | World Championships, Stuttgart | Bronze |
| 1995 | World Championships, Gothenburg | Gold (18.29 m, world record) |
| 1996 | Olympic Games, Atlanta | Silver (17.88 m) |
| 1997 | World Championships, Athens | Silver |
| 1998 | European Championships, Budapest | Gold |
| 1999 | World Championships, Seville | Bronze |
| 2000 | Olympic Games, Sydney | Gold (17.71 m) |
| 2001 | World Championships, Edmonton | Gold |
| 2002 | Commonwealth Games, Manchester | Gold (England) |
| 2002 | European Championships, Munich | Bronze |
Major outdoor championship medals. He also won the 1998 European Indoor title in Valencia.
Early Years
Born in Westminster on 10 May 1966, Edwards went to West Buckland School in Devon, where his talent for the triple jump was spotted early. He went on to study physics at Durham University.
He initially chose not to compete on Sundays because of his Christian beliefs, which cost him a place at the 1991 World Championships. He changed his mind in 1993 and won world bronze in Stuttgart.
Celebrate a British record-breaker with our Jonathan Edwards Men's Hoodie.
Breakthrough: Gothenburg 1995
Nothing could have prepared athletics for 1995. At the World Championships in Gothenburg, Edwards jumped 18.16 m to become the first man over 18 metres, then went 18.29 m with his very next jump. His first record had stood for only about 20 minutes.
It made him the first person to triple jump 60 feet, and he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Competing for Gateshead Harriers, he had gone from a promising jumper to the best in history in a single summer.
Relive Gothenburg 1995 with our Jonathan Edwards Men's T-Shirt.
Peak: Sydney Gold
Olympic silver followed in Atlanta in 1996, and world silver in 1997. In 1998 he won European gold indoors and out.
His crowning moment came at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, when he won gold with 17.71 m and was appointed CBE. A second world title followed in Edmonton in 2001.
Later Career and Broadcasting
In 2002 he won Commonwealth gold for England in front of a home crowd in Manchester, then added European bronze in Munich. He retired after the 2003 World Championships.
He spent 13 years with the BBC, anchoring its athletics coverage at London 2012, before moving to Eurosport as lead presenter from 2017.
Honours
Olympic and world
- Olympic gold: 2000
- Olympic silver: 1996
- World champion: 1995, 2001
- World silver: 1997; bronze: 1993, 1999
Europe and Commonwealth
- European champion: 1998
- European Indoor champion: 1998
- Commonwealth champion: 2002
Recognition
- Triple jump world record: 18.29 m (1995)
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 1995
- CBE
Away From the Game
Edwards was a member of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games, representing athletes. He has also presented cycling coverage since 2012, and before his athletics career took off he earned a physics degree from Durham University.
FAQs
How old is Jonathan Edwards?
Jonathan Edwards was born on 10 May 1966, so he is 60 years old.
Where was Jonathan Edwards born?
He was born in Westminster, London.
How tall is Jonathan Edwards?
He is 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m).
What is the triple jump world record?
It is 18.29 m, set by Jonathan Edwards at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg.
Did Jonathan Edwards win Olympic gold?
Yes, at the Sydney 2000 Olympics with a jump of 17.71 m, four years after silver in Atlanta.
Did Jonathan Edwards win BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
Yes, in 1995, the year he set the world record.
Shop the Jonathan Edwards Collection
Celebrate the triple jump's record-holder with our Edwards designs.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Daley Thompson Career Story and Jessica Ennis-Hill Career Story.
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