It was always going to be a long shot, but Jonathan EDWARDS'  (GBR) dream of a grand finale to his magnificent career just wasn't to be tonight.

Edwards, the defending triple jump champion and world record holder, competing in his last ever competition on a recently injured right ankle, just couldn't summon the magic for one last soaring performance.

In fact, Edwards failed to make the cut after the first three rounds for the first time in his championship career. He practically ran through his first attempt (which was measured anyway, at 14.06m) and, after a poor second of 16.31m, which left him in last place, he scratched from the third round. A sad way to exit the international stage.

Not that he'll leave it empty, for his place in the spotlight is already taken by Christian OLSSON. The Swede who beat Edwards to the European title last year, virtually sealed this competition with his first jump. He sailed out to 17.72m, only five centimetres short of his own personal best, and a mark bettered only by himself, Edwards and Cuba's Yoelbi QUESADA among those competing.

He followed it with three other jumps of at least 17.50m ' leaping 17.52m, 17.50m and 17.52m. Even his 17.34m in the fifth round was further than anyone else managed on the night. He finished with a no jump before grabbing the Swedish flag for a deserved lap of honour.

The minor medals were also settled early. Cuba's Yoandri BETANZOS, a former world junior silver medallist, took the silver with a first round leap of 17.28m, his best for 2003; and Leevan SANDS of the Bahamas, took bronze, with his third round effort of 17.26m.

The only real challenge to the top three came from the current world junior champion David GIRALT, who produced a last round effort of 17.23m, three centimetres short of a medal. Quesada, the 1997 world champion, was down in ninth, managing only 16.84m.

Sweden’s European champion Christian Olsson made himself a firm favourite for the triple jump gold medal on Monday evening when he qualified automatically with his first leap of the day.

Olsson’s 17.56m effort was the furthest of all the qualifiers and one of only three beyond 17 metres. The others came from Cubans David Giralt, who produced a lifetime best of 17.31m on his second jump, and Yoandri Betanzos, who leapt 17.03m on his third.

But the second best jumper this year, Romania’s Marian Oprea, was one of two surprising eliminations. Oprea has jumped 17.63m this year, but could only manage 16.55m. The USA’s Walter Davis was another below par. Having produced a 17.55m jump in June, he could only reach 16.60m today.

The Olympic champion and world record holder Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain was one centimetre short of the automatic qualifying standard of 16.95m but still went through to Monday’s final. The defending champion, Edwards leapt 16.94m on his second attempt but clearly did not look comfortable jumping on his recently injured right ankle.

Edwards, who announced yesterday that he would retire after these championships, managed two successful attempts, but each time appeared to limp as he walked back to his chair. Shaking his head, he then declined to take his third effort.

Cuba had a good morning, for its third jumper, Yoelbi Quesada, produced a season’s best of 16.97m. The only other automatic qualifier was the USA’s Kenta Bell, who reached 16.95m. A relatively modest 16.71m was needed to reach the final.