Parallels are being drawn between the Scottish 200 metres bronze medallist of 1924 Eric Liddell, one of the characters in the film Chariots of Fire, and the grieving world record triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards. Edwards' mother-in-law died yesterday in a Glasgow hospice from a brain tumour.

Deeply distraught, the devout Christian Edwards has decided to stay on in Sydney to compete in the Games.

Clearly the last thing he wants is a debate on whether he has made the correct decision. Liddell refused to run in the Paris Olympics on a Sunday as it went contrary to his Scottish Protestant upbringing. The family bereavement is the latest blow for Edwards who has had an unhappy build-up to his challenge for triple-jump Olympic glory in Sydney.

This follows his written apology to Britain's swimmers after he was quoted - according to him misquoted - in a Sky Sports website column branding the swimmers a bunch of party-loving medal no-hopers.