Ski-jumping legend Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards has opened up about his enduring legacy, revealing that simply reaching the 1988 Calgary Games was his “gold medal” despite being branded a “failure” at the time.
Speaking to GB News, the British athlete reflected on the 38-year journey from being the ultimate underdog to becoming one of the most respected figures in Olympic history.
A quarter century ago, the British plasterer-turned-ski jumper made a name for himself by breaking a British record despite finishing last at the games in Calgary.
“Back in the day, people were saying it was a flop, it was a failure, it was a super flop,” Mr Edwards told GB News.
“It wasn’t until the film came out that they really looked into my story, and they realised that for me, getting to those Olympic Games was my gold medal.”
He added: “It was just fantastic. And now people see me in a slightly different light: the resilience, the tenacity, the determination.
“For those watching the Winter Olympics now in Cortina, if they want to explore stories from past Games, there’s a retro Winter Olympic series.
“They can look back at past athletes and stories and hopefully remember them as fondly as I do.”
Winter Olympics legend Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards discussed the jump
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GB NEWS
Asked what the greatest moment of his sporting career was, he said: “The greatest moment? Was it being at the top of the jump, actually landing it, or the ceremony?
“Looking back at the 1988 Olympics, for me, it was the opening and closing ceremonies when the Olympic president mentioned my name and, of course, doing the jump in front of 82,000 people in the stadium and hundreds of millions watching around the world.
“The whole two weeks were so special, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember it very, very fondly.”
Reflecting on the modern Winter Games currently taking place in Cortina, Mr Edwards suggested that today’s freestyle events might have suited his original “daredevil” style even better than traditional ski jumping.
LATEST ON THE WINTER OLYMPICS:
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards is a sporting icon
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For those looking to relive the nostalgia, Mr Edwards said fans can catch his story and those of other past athletes on the Retro Winter Olympic Series, currently available on the Really app.
He was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping.
Despite finishing last in both the 70m and 90m events, Mr Edwards held the British ski jumping record from 1988 to 2001.
He also took part in amateur speed skiing, reaching 106.8 km/h (66.4 mph), and became a stunt jumping world record holder for clearing six buses in a single jump.
His remarkable story was later brought to the big screen in 2016, when Taron Egerton portrayed him in the biographical film Eddie the Eagle, alongside Tom and Jack Costello.
From Olympic underdog to national hero, Mr Edwards remains one of Britain’s most enduring Winter Olympic icons.
