Eddie The Eagle Edwards

 Born Michael Edwards on December 5^th 1963 (still a public holiday for casualty departments all over the world) in Cheltenham, Eddie was destined to carry on the family business and become a plasterer.  But at the age of 13 after a school skiing trip all that changed.

 He got the skiing bug and as soon as he was old enough travelled to Europe to teach skiing in many of the winter resorts.  He competed internationally in Alpine Skiing then decided to have a go at ski jumping and in just 2 years he was jumping off 90 metre and 120 metre jumps that seasoned ski jumpers take 10 years to work up to!

 1997 Eddie represented Britain at the World Ski Jumping Championships at Oberstorf.

 Then in 1988 he travelled to Calgary and represented Britain in the Winter Olympics.  He became Britain’s 1^st and only Olympic ski jumper and was fondly re-christened “Eddie the Eagle”.

 As the guy who came 58^th he got more publicity than the Gold Medal winner and Eddie’s heroic Olympic efforts thrust him into the limelight.  He had a top 50 chart hit with “Fly Eddie Fly” and a number 2 hit in Finland with “Mum Nienmi En Eitu”.  He travelled the world appearing on many TV shows and became (and still is) a popular addition to the after dinner speaking circuit.  He is also busy with public relations, advertising work and until recently presented a popular Sunday radio show on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.  He is often found at the Snowdome in Tamworth where he teaches skiing to nervous beginners and more seasoned skiers.  Eddie’s story is going to be made into a film this year.

 In addition to all this Eddie gained a Law degree last summer after studying at Demontfort University in Leicester.  He is yet undecided what to do for a career and is spending some “time out” renovating his house in Leicester.  In June Eddie married his Fiancée Sam in true “Eddie the Eagle” style at the Little White Chapel Drive Through in Las Vegas.

 Eddie still holds the British Olympic record for ski jumping at 71 metres; his personal best is currently 119.5 metres.  He holds the world record for stunt jumping (10 cars/6 buses) and was ranked world number 9 at amateur speed skiing (106.8mph).

 Although he is remembered for coming last Eddie always says that just getting to the Olympics was his Gold Medal which epitomises the true Olympic Spirit.