The Eagle
Eddie the Eagle is one of Britain’s most celebrated failures. He was the first ever skier to represent Great Britain in the Winter Olympics Ski jumping event, he qualified for the 1988 Winter Olympics by being ranked 55th in the World and being the sole applicant from Great Britain.
As a sportsman he was extremely far sighted (hence the bottle top glasses) and about 20lb heavier than any other competitor.
It is reported that his bottle top glasses would steam up during his decent down the ski ramp and he would often land completely blind.
He came last in both events he entered in 1988 and failed to qualify ever again.
Despite his abysmal performance he quickly became a national hero and probably made a few quid from TV appearances and advertising.
Funnily enough 1988 was also the year that the Jamaican Bobsled team entered for the first time.
As a sportsman he was extremely far sighted (hence the bottle top glasses) and about 20lb heavier than any other competitor.
It is reported that his bottle top glasses would steam up during his decent down the ski ramp and he would often land completely blind.
He came last in both events he entered in 1988 and failed to qualify ever again.
Despite his abysmal performance he quickly became a national hero and probably made a few quid from TV appearances and advertising.
Funnily enough 1988 was also the year that the Jamaican Bobsled team entered for the first time.
You may have heard of or seen the film “Cool Runnings” starring John Candy (RIP), well it’s based on the Jamaican teams’ entry into the 1988 Winter Olympics.
They too were a little out of their league and officially never finished a run although the famous ending in “Cool Runnings” where the team carry their sled over the line after crashing, met wih raucous applause is absolutely true.
The whole World loves a failure...fuck....they can even make a film about it.
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They too were a little out of their league and officially never finished a run although the famous ending in “Cool Runnings” where the team carry their sled over the line after crashing, met wih raucous applause is absolutely true.
The whole World loves a failure...fuck....they can even make a film about it.
Click here to go back to where you were