30 years airborne: Jonathan Edwards' triple jump world record still defies gravity and time
- Aug 31, 2025
- 3 min read
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Jonathan Edwards bought sunglasses at Gothenburg airport in 1995, not to look cool but to hide his nerves from competitors who might spot the fear behind his eyes. What followed was the most dominant 20 minutes in track history: two Jonathan Edwards triple jump world record performances, one legendary leap of 18.29 meters, and a mark that three decades later still sits untouched like a monument to human flight. On August 7, 1995, he became the first person to clear 18 meters and 60 feet, distances that felt more like science fiction than sport.
The numbers behind the Jonathan Edwards triple jump world record tell a surreal story. Edwards broke his own mark twice in one afternoonâfirst with 18.16 meters, then 18.29 meters just 20 minutes later while his rivals watched in stunned silence. His technique was poetry in motion: a 6-meter hop, 5.22-meter step, and a monstrous 7.02-meter jump phase that left him skimming the sand like a stone across water. At 71 kilograms, he was lighter than most competitors yet generated speed that seemed to bend physics.
The longevity of the Jonathan Edwards triple jump world record both amazes and worries him. "It's not a good sign for athletics," Edwards admits, noting that despite advances in sports science, nutrition, and training, nobody has come close. Only Christian Taylor has gotten within 10 centimeters, and just eight athletes in history have cleared 18 meters at all. For a sport built on progression, this stagnation feels almost unnaturalâŚ
