View source for Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper)

{{Short description|English triple jumper (born 1966)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name                      = Jonathan Edwards<br />{{post-nominals|country=UK|CBE}}
| image                     = Jonathan Edwards olympics 2000 (cropped).jpg
| caption                   = Edwards at the Sydney Olympics, 2000
| full_name                 = Jonathan David Edwards
| birth_date                = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|5|10}}<ref name=iaaf>{{cite web |title=Jonathan Edwards |url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/jonathan-edwards-773 |publisher=[[International Association of Athletics Federations]] |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>
| birth_place               = [[Westminster]], [[London]], England
| death_date                =
| death_place               = 
| death_cause               = 
| resting_place             = 
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| nationality               = British
| education                 = [[West Buckland School]]
| alma_mater                = [[Van Mildert College, Durham]]
| height                    = 182 cm<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Jonathan Edwards |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ed/jonathan-edwards-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174807/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ed/jonathan-edwards-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>
| weight                    = 71 kg<ref name=20q />
| sport                     = Athletics
| club                      = [[Gateshead Harriers]]
| medaltemplates            = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country |{{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|1|1|0
|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]|2|1|2
|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]|0|1|0
|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]|1|0|1
|[[European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]|1|0|0
|[[Commonwealth Games]]|1|2|0
|'''Total'''|'''6'''|'''5'''|'''3'''
}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]]|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 Gothenburg]]|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 Edmonton]]|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 Athens]]|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's Triple Jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 Seville]]|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2001 Lisbon]]|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Goodwill Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 Goodwill Games|1998 New York]]|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Triple jump&nbsp;]] }}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 Goodwill Games|2001 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 2001 Goodwill Games|Triple jump&nbsp;]] }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1998 European Athletics Championships|1998 Budapest]]|[[1998 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2002 European Athletics Championships|2002 Munich]]|[[2002 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1998 European Athletics Indoor Championships|1998 Valencia]]|[[1998 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1994 Commonwealth Games|1994 Victoria]]|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]]}} 
}}

'''Jonathan David Edwards''' (born 10 May 1966) is an English former [[triple jump]]er. He is an [[Summer Olympics|Olympic]], double [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World]], [[European Championships in Athletics|European]], European indoor and [[Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth]] champion, and has held the [[triple jump world record progression|world record in the event]] since 1995. Edwards is regarded as one of the greatest triple-jumpers in history.

Following his retirement as an [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]], Edwards has worked as a sports (primarily athletics) commentator and presenter for [[BBC]] television, before moving to [[Eurosport]]. In 2011, he was elected President of the [[Wenlock Olympian Games|Wenlock Olympian Society]]. He was a member of the [[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]] for the 2012 games.

==Education==
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2022}}
Edwards was born in [[Westminster]], [[London]] and attended [[West Buckland School]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://owba.westbuckland.com/news/alumni-news/alumni-in-the-news/329/329-Visitors-to-WBS-Jonathan-Edwards |title=Visitors to WBS: Jonathan Edwards |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> in [[Devon]] where his potential for the triple jump was spotted at an early age. He was a strong all-rounder, and on leaving received the school's top award for sporting and academic excellence, the Fortescue Medal.

Contemporaries with Edwards at West Buckland School included [[Victor Ubogu]] and [[Steve Ojomoh]], both former Bath and England Rugby international players. Edwards now has a Sports Hall at West Buckland named after him, ''The Jonathan Edwards Sports Centre''. Edwards then studied Physics at [[Durham University]], attending [[Van Mildert College]].

==Athletics career==
Due to his strong Christian beliefs during his athletic career, discussed in more detail [[#Religious beliefs|below]], he initially refused to compete on Sundays,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/an-email-conversation-with-jonathan-edwards-884268.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/an-email-conversation-with-jonathan-edwards-884268.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |last=Rowbottom |first=Mike |title=An email conversation with Jonathan Edwards |work=[[The Independent]] |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> but eventually decided to do so in 1993. This decision proved timely, since the qualifying round at that year's [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] took place on a Sunday. He went on to win the [[bronze medal]].<ref>{{cite web |date=8 August 1995 |title=EDWARDS JUMP-JUMP-JUMPS TO NEW RECORD |url=https://www.deseret.com/1995/8/8/19186560/edwards-jump-jump-jumps-to-new-record/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |website=Deseret News }}</ref>

In his breakthrough year of 1995, Edwards produced a jump of 18.43&nbsp;m (60 feet {{frac|5|1|2}} inches) at the [[1995 European Cup Super League|European Cup]]. The leap was wind assisted and did not count for record purposes, but it was a sign of things to come as he capped an unbeaten year with a historic [[gold medal]] performance at the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]], in which he broke the world record twice in the same meeting. On his first jump, he became the first man to legally pass the 18-metre barrier with a jump of 18.16 m (59 feet 7&nbsp;inches). That record lasted for about 20 minutes. His second jump of 18.29 m made him the first to jump 60 feet. During his commentary for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], Edwards observed that during the 1995 World Championships, he felt as if "he could jump as far as he needed to".  Later that same year, Edwards became the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award|BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/sports-personality/24712341|title=Sports Personality: Jonathan Edwards wins in 1995 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2 October 2015 |access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref>

During 1996 Edwards went into the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] as favourite and world record holder, but it was American [[Kenny Harrison]] who took the gold with a jump of 18.09 m. Edwards walked away with the [[Silver medal|silver]] after a leap of 17.88 m (the longest ever jump not to win gold). Edwards won the gold medal at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/jonathan-edwards-the-overriding-emotion-was-not-of-happiness-but-relief-7771293.html#|title=Jonathan Edwards: 'The overriding emotion was not of happiness but relief'|work=[[The Independent]] |date=22 May 2012 |access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref> and was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] shortly thereafter. He also won golds at the [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 World Championships]] and [[2002 Commonwealth Games]]. At one point in 2002, Edwards held all the gold medals for the "four majors" (Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships). He retired after the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 World Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/jonathan-edwards-great-strides-1039937864/|title=Jonathan Edwards' great strides|first= Steve |last=Smythe | date=1 December 2020 |work=[[Athletics Weekly]]|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref>

==Post-athletics career==
[[File:JE UU Graduation.jpg|thumb|left|Jonathan Edwards at the University of Ulster Winter Graduation Ceremony, Tuesday, 19 December 2006]]
Following his retirement, Edwards has pursued a media career as a [[television presenter]] mainly working for the [[BBC]] as a sports commentator and presenter, and on programmes such as ''[[Songs of Praise]]'' until he gave up this programme, due to his loss of faith, in February 2007.<ref name=faith />

Edwards regularly presented BBC coverage of athletics. When he is not presenting coverage, Edwards often provided expert analysis on field events as part of the BBC commentary team. For the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012 Olympics]], Edwards anchored the BBC's coverage of the athletics events.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC London 2012 presenter line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/021211-bbc-2012-presenter-line-up |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=www.bbc.co.uk }}</ref>

After retiring from competition, Edwards became a keen recreational cyclist<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/cycling-holidays/11605177/Cycling-in-the-Lake-District-Jonathan-Edwardss-favourite-routes.html |title=Cycling in the Lakes: Jonathan Edwards's favourite routes |last=Monk |first=Viki |date=19 May 2015 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> and has presented the BBC's coverage of cycle racing since 2012. He also covered the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] for the BBC and the [[2014 Winter Paralympics]] for [[Channel 4]].<ref name=20q>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/10631212/Twenty-questions-with-...-former-Olympic-triple-jump-gold-medallist-and-world-record-holder-Jonathan-Edwards.html |title=Twenty questions with ... former Olympic triple jump gold medallist and world record holder Jonathan Edwards |last=MacLeary |first=John |date=12 February 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>

Edwards also served as a presenter for the Olympic Announcement ceremonies during the IOC sessions in [[Guatemala]] in 2007 and [[Copenhagen]] in 2009.

In 2004, Edwards joined with [[Paula Radcliffe]] on an ''Olympic Special [[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''. The pair raised £64,000 for charity with half of that sum going to the [[British Olympic Association]] and a quarter of the sum going to Asthma UK.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8554.php |title=Paula Radcliffe an asthmatic herself raises money for Asthma UK in TV competition |work=[[Medical News Today]] |date=21 May 2004 |access-date=9 October 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218053116/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8554.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2011, Edwards became President of Wenlock Olympian Society, organisers of the annual [[Wenlock Olympian Games]] held in [[Shropshire]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk/newsl/jonathan-edwards-president.shtml |title=Jonathan Edwards CBE has accepted the post of President of the Wenlock Olympian Society |publisher=Wenlock Olympian Society |accessdate=10 February 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225144802/http://www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk/newsl/jonathan-edwards-president.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was a member of the [[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]], representing athletes in the organisation of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>[http://www.london2012.com/news/media-releases/post-bid-2005/jonathan-edwards-appointed-to-the-new-london-2012-board.php Jonathan Edwards appointed to the new London 2012 board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207182623/http://www.london2012.com/news/media-releases/post-bid-2005/jonathan-edwards-appointed-to-the-new-london-2012-board.php|date=7 December 2008}} london2012.com</ref>

In February 2016, after 13 years with the BBC, Edwards announced that he had agreed to join [[Eurosport]] on an exclusive contract as the channel's lead presenter from 2017, although he would continue working for the BBC and Channel 4 on their coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics alongside duties with Eurosport until the end of 2016, with his first anchoring role for the pay TV channel being the [[2016 European Aquatics Championships]] in May in London.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/17/bbcs-jonathan-edwards-makes-the-jump-to-eurosport-in-exclusive-deal |title=BBC's Jonathan Edwards makes the jump to Eurosport in exclusive deal |last=Sweeney |first=Mark |last2=Gibson |first2=Owen |date=17 February 2016 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> For the BBC's Olympic coverage in [[Rio 2016|Rio]], Edwards was a lead presenter on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and presented the television coverage of triathlon events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rio 2016 on the BBC – Radio |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rio/radio |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=www.bbc.co.uk }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rio 2016 on the BBC – TV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rio/tv |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=www.bbc.co.uk }}</ref>

==International competitions==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes|NotesOff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}
|-
|1987
|[[Athletics at the 1987 Summer Universiade|Universiade]]
|[[Zagreb, Yugoslavia]]
|9th
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1987 Summer Universiade – Men's triple jump|15.96 m]]
|-
|1988
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Seoul, South Korea]]
|23rd (q)
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|15.88 m]]
|-
|1989
|[[1989 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|[[Barcelona, Spain]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Triple jump
|[[1989 IAAF World Cup – Results#Triple jump|17.28 m]]
|-
|1990
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Auckland, New Zealand]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|16.93 m]] (w)
|-
|rowspan=2|1992
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Barcelona, Spain]]
|35th (q)
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|15.76 m]]
|-
|[[1992 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|[[Havana, Cuba]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[1992 IAAF World Cup – Results#Triple jump|17.34 m]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1993
|[[1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Toronto, Canada]]
|6th
|Triple jump
|[[1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|16.76 m]]
|-
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Stuttgart, Germany]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Triple jump
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|17.44 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1994
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Saint Petersburg, Russia]]
|7th
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Goodwill Games – Results#Triple jump|16.57 m]]
|-
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Helsinki, Finland]]
|6th
|Triple jump
|[[1994 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|16.85 m]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria, Canada]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1994 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|17.00 m]]
|-
|1995
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg, Sweden]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|18.29 m]]
|-
|1996
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Atlanta, United States]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|17.88 m]]
|-
|1997
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Athens, Greece]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Triple jump
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|17.69 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1998
|[[1998 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Valencia, Spain]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[1998 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|17.43 m]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale, United States]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games – Results#Triple jump|17.65 m]]
|-
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Budapest, Hungary]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|17.99 m]]
|-
|1999
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Seville, Spain]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Triple jump
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|17.48 m]]
|-
|2000
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|17.71 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2001
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Lisbon, Portugal]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Triple jump
|[[2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|17.26 m]]
|-
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Edmonton, Canada]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|17.92 m]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2001 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[Brisbane, Australia]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 2001 Goodwill Games – Results#Triple jump|17.26 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2002
|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Manchester, United Kingdom]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's triple jump|17.86 m]]
|-
|[[2002 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Munich, Germany]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Triple jump
|[[2002 European Athletics Championships – Men's triple jump|17.32 m]]
|-
|[[2002 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|[[Madrid, Spain]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Triple jump
|[[2002 IAAF World Cup – Results#Triple jump|17.34 m]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2003
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Birmingham, United Kingdom]]
|4th
|Triple jump
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's triple jump|17.19 m]]
|-
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Paris, France]]
|12th
|Triple jump
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump|16.31 m]]
|}

==Personal bests==
*Triple Jump – 18.29 m (WR),<ref name=iaaf /><ref name="WR">{{cite web |title=Triple Jump – men – senior – outdoor |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/all-time-toplists/jumps/triple-jump/outdoor/men/senior |publisher=IAAF |access-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> 18.43 m ({{AthAbbr|w}} +2.4 m) (not ratified due to excessive wind conditions)<ref name="WR" />
*100&nbsp;m – 10.48 s<ref name=iaaf />
*[[Long jump]] – 7.41 m<ref name=iaaf />

==Awards==
Edwards received an honorary doctorate from [[Heriot-Watt University]] in 2002.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Heriot—Watt University Edinburgh & Scottish Borders: Annual Review 2002–2003 |url=https://www.hw.ac.uk/services/docs/secretariat/court-min-2002-03.pdf |access-date=9 October 2019 |website=www1.hw.ac.uk}}</ref>

An honorary doctorate was conferred upon him at a ceremony at the [[University of Exeter]] on 21 January 2006.<ref>[https://www.exeter.ac.uk/honorarygraduates/previous/#a2 Honorary Graduates of the University – Doctor of Laws (LLD)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922130222/http://www.exeter.ac.uk/honorarygraduates/previous/#a2 |date=22 September 2019 }} ''exeter.ac.uk''. Retrieved 9 October 2019.</ref>

Later in the same year, an honorary doctorate of the university (DUniv) was conferred upon him at the winter graduation ceremony of the [[University of Ulster]] (19 December 2006).<ref>[http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2902.html UU Honours Olympian Jonathan Edwards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170151/http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2902.html|date=3 March 2016}} ulster.ac.uk</ref>

==Personal life==
Edwards lives with his wife in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. They have two sons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/olympic-champ-jonathan-edwards-insists-his-marriage-is-intact-despite-his-christianity-crisis-7210417.html|title=Olympic champ Jonathan Edwards insists his marriage is intact despite his Christianity crisis|date=13 April 2012|work=The Standard|accessdate=25 September 2025}}</ref>

Edwards was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'' opposing [[Scottish independence]] in the run-up to the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|2014 referendum on that issue]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |work=The Guardian |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>

===Religious beliefs===
Edwards initially refused to compete on Sundays due to his devout [[Christianity|Christian]] beliefs, a decision that cost him a chance to compete in the 1991 [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]. However, in 1993, after much deliberation and discussion with his father (a [[vicar]]), he changed his mind, deciding that God gave him his talent in order for him to compete in [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]. He once said "My relationship with Jesus and God is fundamental to everything I do. I have made a commitment and dedication in that relationship to serve God in every area of my life."<ref name=faith>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Tom |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1542391/Olympian-Jonathan-Edwards-has-crisis-of-faith.html |title=Olympian Jonathan Edwards has 'crisis of faith' |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>

He presented episodes of the Christian television show ''[[Songs of Praise]]'' until 2007. In June 2007, in an interview in ''[[The Times]]'', Edwards said: "When you think about it rationally, it does seem incredibly improbable that there is a God." In the same interview, he stated: "Looking back now, I can see that my faith was not only pivotal to my decision to take up sport but also my success ... I was always dismissive of sports psychology when I was competing, but I now realise that my belief in God was sports psychology in all but name." He has since described himself as "probably agnostic, but practically an atheist", and has expressed contentment with his current worldview, stating "I feel internally happier than at any time of my life."<ref name=lossoffaith>[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/i-have-never-been-happier-says-the-man-who-won-gold-but-lost-god-jmslbj385c7 {{"'}}I have never been happier' says the man who won gold but lost God"], ''The Times'', 27 June 2007.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Jonathan Edwards (athlete)}}
* {{World Athletics|14189134}}
* {{European Athletics|14189134|old_id= e/athlete=198078-edwards-jonathan}}
* {{Olympics.com|jonathan-david-edwards|Jonathan David Edwards
  |org_id=jonathan-edwards-1 |org_name=Jonathan Edwards
  |oc_archive=20201126213949 |org_archive=20190623231516
  }}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{IMDb name|1198579}}
* http://www.mtc-uk.com/talent/jonathan-edwards/
* http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/athletics/sydney-medallist-emabrrassed-by-god-fervour/story-e6frfgkx-1225815303222
* [http://olympicradiostation.cruisewithbruce.com/ Jonathan Edwards, Interview on London's 2012 Olympic Games]

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before={{Flag icon|USA}} [[Willie Banks]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[World record progression triple jump|Men's Triple Jump World Record Holder]]|years=8 July 1995 – present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{S-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Damon Hill]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|years=1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Damon Hill]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Colin Jackson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[European Athlete of the Year Award|Men's European Athlete of the Year]]|years=1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jan Železný]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wilson Kipketer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[European Athlete of the Year Award|Men's European Athlete of the Year]]|years=1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tomáš Dvořák]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Romario]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[L'Équipe#International|L'Équipe's International Champion of Champions]]|years=1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Michael Johnson (athlete)|Michael Johnson]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Johan Olav Koss]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Male winners|United Press International<br />Athlete of the Year]]|years=1995}}
{{s-aft|after=none}}
{{S-end}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (men)}}
{{European Athlete of the Year (men)}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Great Britain Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer European Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer European Champions Indoor Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions Triple Jump Men}}
{{Footer WBYP Triple Men}}
{{Footer UK NC Triple Jump Men}}
{{PAP European Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{L'Équipe Champion of Champions}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Jonathan}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Gosforth]]
[[Category:People from Westminster]]
[[Category:Athletes from the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:English sports broadcasters]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English men triple jumpers]]
[[Category:British men triple jumpers]]
[[Category:Olympic men triple jumpers]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:English Olympic competitors]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:AAA Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics record holders]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:European Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:English former Christians]]
[[Category:People educated at West Buckland School]]
[[Category:Alumni of Van Mildert College, Durham]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]