Jonathan Edwards - Road to Munich
Now it starts to become serious: and the competitors in the triple jump for the European Championships in Munich know exactly, who wants to win the title must beat Jonathan Edwards. This will be very difficult. Because the "king of triple jump" shows every week, when he is competing at the Golden League meetings and other competition, that he is in a very good shape. But anyway its possible.
Jonathan Edwards (Photo: Kiefner)
In Stockholm he shocked his competitors. The Olympic Champion jumped 17,78 metres - and improved the world years best. And the 36-years old athlete showed the world that he wants to become European Champion again, after he won the title 1998. But its not utopian to win against him. The 1,82 Meter tall athlete started at four Golden League Meetings until now and won two times. Starting in Oslo (17,51 Meter), continued in Paris (17,75 Meter).
But at the latest event in Monaco he lost against the 22nd-years old Swedish guy, who used to be a highjumper some years ago. He jumped 17,63 Meters, Edwards followed only four zentimeters behind. Christian Olsson is his crown prince - in some competitions he always is very close to "the flying English man", but to beat him is another kind of thing.
In Monaco he managed that - the fist time this year in the outdoor season. In Rome suprisingly Edwards didn`t win neither - the US-Champion, Walter Davis, beat him. Davis jumped 17,33 metre, Edwards was following with 17,25 metre.
Best preparation for Munich
"I didn`compete indoor, because I wanted to have the best preparation for Munich", Edwards said. This was also the reason why he started quite late into the season. In the spring he spent about five weeks in Florida with his family in the trainings camp.
And it seems that the british worldrecordholder ist doing everything in the right way. Even for Christian Olsson who reached a new european indoor record in 2002 it will be difficult.
Edwards is an athlete who calculate the situation in a competition. Not every jumper is able to do that, but he can.
He often doesn`t jump all six attempts. "I am not the youngest one, so I have to take care for my health", the famous British athlete often says.
His experience ist very very valuable
But at the other hand he knows exactly, that he is in a good position. His experience ist very very valuable. And in many competitions in the past this helped him to win. A lot of times he was the "man of the last attempt".
It will be a very good triplejump event in Munich. Because the young swedish jumper, Christian Olsson ist very motivated. And "king Jonathan" will do anything he can, that his biggest rival won`t beat him. The spectators can expect an event on a very high level and big results - if the conditions are well.
But before the Olympic Champion will jump in Munich, the ambassador of the Europeans, has another thing to do: he wants to win the title at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, which will start on 26th July with the track and field programm.
And the spectators will stand behind him, the atmosphere will be like Edwards is a local guy. The british people are proud, that they have an athlete like him.
For the British team a medal at the Commonwealth Games is very important.
"If I win in Manchester, I have the four big title all together at one time",
Edwards said. Olympic Champion, Wold Champion, European Champion and winner of the Commonwealth games. This is his big goal. And the world record he has anyway. And of course he wants to defeat his title in Munich.
One thing will happen for sure: the event will be very exciting and thrilling.
Ursula Kaiser
