Gert Siniloo Pärnu Ülejõe Gymnasium Form 10A Teacher: Kai Kõks Pärnu 2009

Introduction  His full name is Jonathan David Edwards  He is a former British triple jumper  He was born on May in London  He lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, England  He is a CBE (Commander of the British Empire)  He is 183cm tall and weighs 72kg

Education  Edwards attended West Buckland School; on leaving he received the Fortescue Medal for sporting and academic excellence  Attending Van Mildert College, he read Physics at Durham University

Athletics career  Edwards initially refused to compete on Sundays due to his strong Christian beliefs; he later changed his mind and thanks to that won the bronze medal for the World Championships of 1993  In 1995 he jumped 18.43m at the European Cup, but that leap was wind assisted and did not count for record purposes; later that year, during the World Championships, he broke the world record twice: first he jumped 18.16m and after 20 minutes 18.29m

Athletics career  At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics he competed as a favourite, but did not win the gold medal; he walked away with a silver medal after having jumped 17.88m (that is the longest jump ever not to win the gold medal)  At the 2000 Sydney Olympics he won the Olympic gold medal and was awarded the CBE shortly afterwards

Athletics career  At one point in 2002, Edwards held all the gold medals for the four major competitions in the world  Edwards retired in 2003 after the World Championships as Great Britain's most successful medal winning athlete

Edwards' medals  1 Olympic gold and 1 silver medal  1 gold medal and 2 silver ones for the Commonwealth Games  2 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals for the World Championships  1 silver medal for the World Indoor Championships  1 gold medal and 1 bronze medal for the European Championships  6 gold medals and 1 silver medal for the European Cup  1 gold medal for the European Indoor Championships

Post-athletics career  After his retirement, Edwards became a sports commentator mainly working for the BBC; he also worked as a presenter for a TV-program called Songs of Praise, but he gave it up after losing his faith  He is a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games; he represents athletes in the organisation of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Religious beliefs  Edwards initially refused to compete on Sundays due to his strong Christian beliefs; that decision cost him the chance to compete in the 1991 World Championships; in 1993, after discussing it with his father, who is a vicar, he changed his mind  In February 2007 it was widely reported that Edwards had lost his faith in God; he said that he was going through a very difficult period and wished not to comment on it

Personal life  Edwards is married and his wife is called Alison  They have two sons called Nathan and Sam

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