Triple Jumper Jonathan Edwards Reflects On Holding One Of The Longest Athletic World Records Of All Time

Friday marks 25 years since Jonathan Edwards took his historic 18.29-meter triple jump leap at the World Championship in Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium. Edwards’ world record has held for longer than the legendary long jump world record, set by Bob Beamon at the 1968 Olympics. By the time he arrived in Gothenburg, Edwards had already claimed the world record with an improvement of one centimeter to 17.98 meters. From that point on, he was holding himself to a standard that was virtually immortal. And the rest of the world is still trying to catch up to him.

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This is a superb interview with Jonathan Edwards, the only Briton with a track & field world record. 25 years since he jumped into the history books. By @oliverbrown_tel https://t.co/NQ6uv9D9Gh

— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) August 7, 2020

The amazing thing about Edwards’ record is that it wasn’t even his longest jump at Gothenburg. He leaped to a crowd-gasping 18.43 meters, nearly half a meter in excess of Willie Banks’ world record of 17.97 meters. However, the attempt was invalidated by a 2.4 meters per second tailwind, marginally over the limit. Before setting his current triple jump world record of 18.29 meters, Edwards’ set the record with a jump of 18.19 meters. A record that lasted only minutes. At that point, he was free to have some fun with the Gold medal already locked in.

“When 18.29 meters came up, I had done my research. I knew I had done both 18 meters and 60 feet on the same day, in the space of 10 minutes,” said Edwards. Edwards’ press conference drew more reporters than Donovan Bailey had attracted winning 100m gold the previous evening.

The new era of jumpers have come within striking distance, but Edwards’ record still persists. A quarter-century and counting. When asked if he thought the record would ever fall, Edwards said “who knows?”.

Reigning world and Olympic champion Christian Taylor’s personal best is 18.21 meters. Fellow American Will Claye registered an 18.14-meter jump last year. Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo is fifth on the all-time list and the youngest of the trio at 27 years old.

“The three of them are good, and perhaps the competition they provide each other could push them on. But is nice they have given me 25 years! It is a nice milestone. I think I could let the record go much more graciously now.” said the world champion triple jumper. 

Records are meant to be broken. Isn’t that the old adage? Edwards seems ready to let go of his triple jump record if the time comes. Twenty-five years is a long time (at least in my book); it’s essentially my entire existence on earth. I don’t know what it’s like to hold a world record. But if I were Edwards, I would want to take that one to my grave.

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