BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | World Indoor Athletics

By BBC Sport Online's Adrian Harte

Jonathan Edwards is adamant his silver at the World Indoor Athletics Championships is not evidence he is now settling for second best.

The Olympic triple jump champion's failure to take gold prompted suggestions that his competitive edge had been blunted by success in Sydney.

But he told BBC Sport Online: "I don't plan to carry on and become an also-ran. I still want to jump well, but I'll retire if I find the motivation levels aren't there.

"I jumped well indoors, 17.60m, so that bodes very well for jumping outdoors.

"One thing about the World Indoors is the surface didn't suit the way I jump.

"So you shouldn't think, 'Oh Edwards isn't bothered any more, he can't jump when it really matters'.

"A greater test for me is the outdoor season, and within competitions itself, the motivation is still there."

Aiming for Athens

"I don't really have a blank sheet of paper in front of me as regards the rest of my athletics career.

"I'll carry on training and competing and if my legs hold up, particularly my left ankle which I have problems with, then I hope to compete through to Athens in 2004.

"If not, it's not the be-all-and-end-all as I've had a wonderful career."

Daniel Caines, World Indoor 400m champion
Caines claimed Britain's only gold in Lisbon
Edwards won praise in Lisbon for his gesture of congratulations after unheralded Italian Paolo Camossi beat him to gold.

Edwards said: "I was delighted to see him win. If I'd won, it would have been great, but it was neither here nor there in terms of my career.

"But it meant the world to him and it was great to see that look in his eye of sheer shock as well as delight. Those are the magic moments in sport."

'A bit of fun'

Edwards maintained that the World Indoor Championships were only a springboard for the outdoor season.

"It's very much a B-level major games. It gives established athletes a chance to go out and have a bit of fun.

"But it also gives younger athletes the chance to come through on a senior stage and develop their talent.

"It gives them the confidence to go on to World Championships, Olympic Games, European Championships and to do well.

"Obviously for the likes of Daniel Caines and Mark Lewis-Francis, it's an important stage.

"For me, it would have been nice to have won, but it didn't matter that much."


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