Jonathan Edwards will come in history
He didn`t compete during the indoor season, because the next five month are much more important. Jonathan Edwards has big goals. The triple jumper from Newcastle, who will be 36 years old at the 10th May, wants to defeat his title from 1998 in Budapest again in Munich at the European Championships in August.
Foto: Kiefner
The simphaticaly britisch athlete had won everything, somebody can win in athletics. The Highlight was his victory at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000. Even he had so many successful moments, he ist motivated until his hair tips. That the father of two sons - Nathan and Samuel - earns his money with the sport is only one of the reasons. For the European Championships in Munich he got a job: to represent the organization as an embassador. He promotes for the Championships in his home-country. Trainings Camp in Florida
To be in top shape in August, the worldrecordholder traveled to Florida in a Trainings Camp. Five weeks he will prepare the season, only a few days before his birthday he will come back. And then he will start to jump at a few meetings in the circuit.
His strongest competitors will be the young Christian Olsson from Sweden and - in case he is in good shape again - Charles Friedek from Leverkusen, who snatched the titel away from him 1999 in Sevilla. This defeat hurt him as more as his mother-in-law watched the competition. "She had cancer and I wanted to win for her", Jonathan Edwards remembered. That his plan didn`t work, hurt him twice. Shortly before the Olympic Games in Sydney, one year later she died. This time Edwards won gold and he dedicated her the medal.
The triple jumper is very religios. Since eleven years the gaunt British man is married. His wife Alison he met in the church. The bible the son of a curate describes as his favourite reading. "With this I grow up, when I am at home, I leaf through the bible every day", Edwards tells, who has his first big success at the World Championships in Stuttgart 1993. There he won the bronce medal. It was a big surprise at this time.
Original a sports career like Edwards practises today, never would have been possible because of his former view and opinion of life.
Some years ago the triple jumper didn`t want to jump on Sundays. His father encouraged him, not to waste his talent. "It`s a gift from god you must accept", he said. Edwards junior saw it as a sign from god, and since this time he "jumps around the clock".
Most important thing was his education
His father also was responsible, that Edwards start to train seriously. When he was young, he was regarded as very lazy. "Actually I was much more interested in Tennis, Rugby or Cricket", the Olympic Champion remembered. But the most important thing was his education. The athlete studied Physics at the Durham University and finished every exams. "But I never could imagine to work as a physicist", Edwards says.
When he began to jump he was 21 years old. At this time he worked in a hospital, these were not the best conditions for a professional sports career. But when he won his bronce medal 1993 in Stuttgart he thought
the first time, "that maybe I could be succesful in the triple jump".
Edwards likes to travel. "I love to meet people and discover new countries and regions". At school he learnt a little bit of German an Latin. Beside he speaks a little bit french. Italy, France and America are his privileged Countries. The worldrecordholder, who even reached 18,43 m - when the following wind blowed to strong - doesn`t feel as a hero. " I am a normal person . At home in Newcastle I have a house and a big garden and I live with my family in the same way as my neighbours. The difference is, I am famous, because I am able to jump so far and I earn my money with the sport. But I have to bear a lot from the media, if something is not working how it should be", the 1,81 m tall man says.
In his freetime he likes to play guitarre and visit the cinema. But one thing he hates like hell: parties ! "I prefer to meet with friends. Friends are the most important thing in life. Much more important than success."
The flying Englisch man
Jonathan Edwards - the flying Englisch man ! In any case it has a reason why his nicknames are "Flummi" or "the human kangaroo". Spectators and experts are fascinated from his technic and his speed. "I am faster than the most of my competitors and I can transform the speed into the jump
that`s the secret", Edwards, who was appointed from the british Queen Elizabeth as a "meber of the Order of the British Empire", explained
He knows that his career is almost at the end. But he won`t fall in a whole when he will retire. "I plan to oranize congresses and seminars to bring god closer to the people", Edwards says. "I think I have an excellent possiblility to move something, because the people know me and listen to me." Beside this plans, he is a member of the Britisch National Olympic Committee and he would like to work as a kommentator.
But before he fullfil his plans, he wants to show his competitors how to win in Munich. One thing already is sure: He will come in history. Rarely an athlete won really every title. The worldrecord inclusive. And in this case his successors will have a lot to do to come at the same level.
Ursula Kaiser
