Jonathan Edwards Reflects on Olympic Triple Jump Showdown

It’s not every day that someone breaks two world records in just 20 minutes, but that’s exactly what Jonathan Edwards did back at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg. Leading up to the event, he had already set a new world record at 17.98m, and in Gothenburg, he soared to incredible jumps of 18.16m and then an even more astonishing 18.29m, which still remains the world record today.

Edwards’ jump of 18.16m was top-notch and stood at third-best in history until recently when Spain’s Jordan Alejandro Díaz Fortún jumped 18.18m at the European Championships. With the current Olympic champion, Pedro Pichardo, reaching 18.04m this season, there’s a lot of buzz about the upcoming triple jump final in Paris that many expect to be a standout event of the games.

As we gear up for the Olympic triple jump final, Edwards shared his thoughts on what to expect. “I think it will be a very strong final,” he said. “It’ll probably be the best for a number of years, especially since Christian Taylor was hitting his peak.” He reminisced about Taylor’s remarkable jump of 18.21m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and how it excited fans around the world.

Edwards also pointed out that the European Championships gave a preview of the competition, where talents like Pedro Pichardo and Jordan Díaz showcased their stellar form. He’s particularly keeping an eye on emerging star Jaydon Hibbert, saying, “He’s an incredible talent.” With world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango also producing strong performances, all eyes are on these athletes to potentially make history.

The conversation then shifted to Edwards’ legendary world record and whether it’s in danger of being broken. He acknowledged that with the recent performances, especially from Díaz and Pichardo, it’s not impossible. “If conditions are right and the competition heats up, anything could happen,” he added.

When asked why his world record has stood the test of time, Edwards admitted he’s often puzzled by it. “There are four men’s field event world records from the 1990s still standing,” he noted. He attributed some of it to the changing landscape of athletics, where many talented athletes gravitate towards more lucrative opportunities outside of track and field.

Reflecting on his Olympic journey, Edwards mentioned how events in Seoul and Barcelona helped him prepare for his gold medal win in Sydney and silver in Atlanta. He shared, “Those early Olympics were tough; I didn’t qualify for the final, which really hit me hard. But it built resilience that ultimately helped me.”

Finally, he reminisced about competing on “Magic Monday” at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, a day filled with historic performances including Cathy Freeman’s unforgettable run. “The atmosphere was spine-tingling with 112,000 spectators,” he recalled. “That day was nothing short of magical.”