Jonathan Edwards

[devans]

While we're waiting for the outdoor season to get underway have a look back at the greatest Triple Jumper ever...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqCCm209-Xc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4mBR2-bgNE

Notice on the second jump how he nearly ends up in the sand before his final jump phase.

He holds the world record to this day.

 

[mastermulti]

yep, he's a hero alright, named after an American preacher. What grace
and technique!

I must say that I've met another hero within the last two weeks.
I'd seen this tall rangy silver haired older gentleman (I'm 54 and he's 63)
coaching two young guns at Homebush for some time now. He has a bit
of a limp and told me he needs his hips replaced sometime soon.

As a coach he gave me a few pointers which was helpful and I've been on
a first name basis ever since............. his name

Viktor Saneyev,,,,, now an Australian citizen and Jonathon's pick as best
triple jumper ever

I' M EXPECTING MY TJ AND LJ TO IMPROVE MARKEDLY OVER THE OFF
SEASON HERE LOLEdited by: mastermulti

 

[devans]

For triple jump and long jump you need (as well as mastering the event technique) to be able to run extremely fast and to be able to jump. So how come a 140 pounds white Englishman has held the record for so long?
If we lined up the 100 top triple jumpers or long jumpers in the world right now I'll bet they would be quite a mixed looking bunch. Perhaps there might be an over-representation of people of west african background.
Line up the top 100 NFL cornerbacks or Running-backs and the look is a bit more uniform. Athletic superiority does not explain this anomoly.

 

[mastermulti]

"For triple jump and long jump you need (as well as mastering the event
technique) to be able to run extremely fast and to be able to jump. So
how come a 140 pounds white Englishman has held the record for so
long?"

ahha! as well as running a 10.40 odd electric 100, he could transition
from each phase of the jump so smoothly. As "T&F news" noted, he just
doesn't slow between phases.

 

[devans]

Unfortunately triple jump Olympic champion Christian Olsson of Sweden has announced today that he is unable to defend his title in Beijing due to injury. Phillips Oduwu (GB) is now the hot favorite. Hopefully Edwards eight year world record 8.29 will also still be standing when the Olympics finish.

 

[guest301]

That is bad news. I hope and assume their are other white triple jumpers who qualified for the Olympics and will compete for medals.

 

[white is right]

Unfortunately triple jump Olympic champion Christian Olsson of Sweden has announced today that he is unable to defend his title in Beijing due to injury. Phillips Oduwu (GB) is now the hot favorite. Hopefully Edwards eight year world record 8.29 will also still be standing when the Olympics finish.

There is no chance of that record falling in the near future. Only Olsson has come close in recent times. In 96' Kenny Harrison did a huge jump to beat Edwards and he was still 20 centimeters short of the record. Edited by: white is right

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Edwards also jumped an insane 8.43 meters, but it was just barely not wind legal. I think an 8.43 for sure would stand until the day I die.

 

[mastermulti]

That should read 18.43m......... (60' 6" or so)......seemed a long way indeed
when I paced it out to show some "unbelievers".....

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Yes you are correct; an 8.43 is a good Olympic long jump, not a triple jump.

 

[StarWars]

Of all the records that will probably never be broken, this record is probably secod. The other is hely by another white man; a pole vaulter by the name of Bubkas.