Olsson denies Edwards gold in triple jump

Sweden's Christian Olsson leaped to European triple jump glory on Thursday to deny defending champion and world record holder Jonathan Edwards another night of triumph.

The 22-year-old, who has been Edwards chief rival in the past year, outjumped the Olympic champion to claim his first major title and usher in a new era in the discipline.

Olsson, silver medallist behind the 36-year-old Briton at the world championships in Edmonton last year, won with a leap of 17.53 metres, while Edwards took bronze with a 17.32 jump.

"I was expecting a tough competition," Olsson said.

"I had a problem with the headwinds and the track was too soft for my liking.

"I did not come up with the big jumps but it was enough for victory. I've beaten Jonathan before but never when it mattered."

Edwards, who received treatment in the lead up to the final after bruising a heel in qualifying, admitted he was out of sorts.

"I was awful really," Edwards said.

"It wasn't the easiest of conditions, and there were many disruptions. Halfway through the competition I realised it was not going to be my day.

"I wasn't running to the board well. I wasn't jumping well and I didn't feel good. It was very disappointing.

"You have good days and bad days and this was a bad one. My level of performance is disappointing having jumped so well in the Commonwealth Games."

OVERSTEPPED

Germany's Charles Friedek took silver with a mark of 17.33, while Briton Phillips Idowu endured a disappointing night, managing a best leap of 16.92 for fifth place.

Olsson led from the very first round. He kicked off with 17.16m, then increased his mark to 17.44 with his second jump. Friedek and Edwards responded with their best efforts in the same round but the Swede found more two leaps later to secure the title.

There was almost a dramatic finale when Edwards appeared to pass Olsson with his last leap, but the disappointed Briton had overstepped the take-off mark by just 1.5 centimetres.

"In a way I wouldn't have deserved to win it," added Edwards, who said that talk of retiring was not in his plans.

"I don't think what happened today was going to be significant, one way or the other. Obviously I wanted to do well and to successfully defend my title.

"I'll go and jump the rest of the season. I'm in good shape. One bad night does not ruin a season. I'll get to the end of the year and see what I think then.

"I still feel I have an 18 metre jump in my legs."