Eddie the Eagle
Eddie is a British ski jumping champion who was the first - and only - competitor to represent Great Britain at the Winter Olympics in Ski Jumping.
He competed at Calgary in 1988, but finished last in both his events; he finished 56th out of 57 competitors, but the 57th was disqualified. This endeared him to the public and made him a household name. He was known for wearing bottle top glasses which steamed up when he ski-jumped.
Eddie began his skiing career as a downhill skier, but had also competed as an amateur speed skier, ranking world number nine (106.8 mph), and was a stunt jumping world record holder after jumping ten cars and six buses. After the Olympics, Eddie went back to his job as a plasterer.
Eddie gained his Eagle nickname after the International Olympics Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch referenced him during the closing ceremony;
"At Calgary people set new goals, created new world records, and some even flew like an eagle."
A film chronicling Eddie’s life story is rumored to be in the making. Harry Potter star Rupert Grint is expected to play the title role.
