'I've lost my faith but I'm happy': Jonathan Edwards reveals that he no longer believes in God

Edwards was once so guided by his faith he wouldn't compete on a Sunday

Former Olympic champion still holds the triple jump world record

A vicar's son, he quit as presenter of Songs of Praise in 2007 and revealed he was in personal turmoil after losing his faith

Now, he has said: 'I don’t miss my faith. In many ways I feel more settled and happier in myself without it'

Edwards won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney after missing out and winning silver in 1996



Former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards has revealed he no longer believes in God – but is happier than he’s ever been.

His Christian faith was so important to him as a young man that he refused to compete on a Sunday and famously gave up the chance to take part in the 1991 World Athletics Championships as a result.

But in 2007, the vicar’s son quit as presenter of the BBC’s Songs of Praise and revealed he was in personal turmoil after losing his faith in God.



Change of heart: British athlete Jonathan Edwards celebrates winning gold in the Mens Triple Jump Final at the Olympic Stadium on Day Ten of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia This photograph shows Jonathan Edwards in action at the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2003 Now Edwards, 47, has spoken about giving up on Christianity.

‘I just stopped believing in God,’ said Edwards, who won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.



‘I don’t go to church any more. Not at all.’

Edwards, who still holds the world triple jump record that he set 19 years ago, told the Daily Mirror: ‘I am happy and actually it’s fine.



'I don’t miss my faith. In many ways I feel more settled and happier in myself without it.

‘I don’t know if that is related to losing my faith or would have been the case anyway.

‘Had I suddenly thought that life doesn’t quite feel right, maybe I’d re-examine my faith. In fact, more than ever, I feel comfortable with where I am in life.’

In 2007, he quit as Songs of Praise presenter and said he was in personal turmoil after losing his faith in God Edwards is pictured here at the European Championships in Budapest in 1998, where he won a gold medal Edwards, who won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics, has previously said he was 'slightly embarrassed' by his former faith. In 2010, he told Sky News: 'I think I was probably quite narrow-minded and fundamental in my views and a bit of a scary person.

'I believed that what I believed was the truth. Some of those extremes I feel slightly embarrassed about now, but overall no regrets.'

MEDALS, BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AND CBE FOR EDWARDS

Jonathan Edwards qualified for the World Championships for the first time in 1993.

Crucially, he was able to do so after deciding he could compete in the qualifying round, which took place on a Sunday. He had previously refused to compete on Sundays because of his religion.

He won bronze that year and took the gold medal at the European Cup two years later.

After making two record jumps – 18.16m (59ft 7in) and then 18.29m (60ft) – Edwards was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In 1996, entering the Olympic Games, Edwards won a silver medal with a jump of 17.88m – the longest-ever jump not to win gold. American Kenny Harrison won with a jump of 18.09m.

Edwards did win the gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games and was made a CBE soon afterwards.

He then won gold medals at the 2001 World Championships and the 2002 Commonwealth Games before retiring after the 2003 World Championships.