Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards

Despite little skill for his sport, Eddie’s heroic failures won the hearts and minds of the public: in 2016, he was portrayed by Taron Egerton in the biographical film Eddie the Eagle, and he remains one of the best loved athletes today.

Born in Cheltenham, England, Eddie was working as a plasterer when he qualified as the sole British applicant for the 1988 Winter Olympics ski-jumping competition. He had previously represented Great Britain at the 1987 World Championships, and was ranked 55th in the world.

The odds were stacked against him: he weighed 9kg more than the next heaviest competitor; he lacked financial support for training and was totally self-funded; he was scared of heights; and he needed to wear his glasses at all times, which fogged up to such an extent while skiiing that he could not see.

Eddie eventually finished last in both the 70m and 90m events – and his lack of success endeared him to people all across the globe. In fact, the worse he did, the more popular he became, to the point where he became a media celebrity and appeared on talk-shows around the world. The press nicknamed him “Mr. Magoo”, and one Italian journalist called him a “ski dropper”.