Eddie The Eagle

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

"We Brits"? I thought you were a septic now?

At the time, 1988, I wasn’t ;)

 

[crublue1]

Anyone who skis down that ramp deserves a bit of respect, regardless of how good they are at it.
Always came across as a decent fella, albeit ever so slightly fucking bonkers lol

 

[idahoblues]

I'll take the plunge, and say we Brits are obsessed with the plucky loser

He was really popular in the States

 

[East Level 2]

The same actor played Elton John in Rocketman. Perhaps a rocket pack would have helped him on the ski jump.

 

[west didsblue]

We just love coming second.

You get silver for second. Don’t think he was anywhere near that!

 

[Barcon]

It was something along the lines of each country was allowed a maximum amount of competitors, but following Eddie's appearance the rules were changed so that to compete, a minimum qualifying standard had to be met, as happens in other sports

That sounds like bad news for the Jamaican bobsled team.

 

[paulchapo]

I met him once. He was travelling on a Dover to Calais Ferry on his own and I said "Bloody hell Eddie the eagle isn't it?" He laughed and answered, "Yes embarrassing isn't it?" I told him what others have said on here that it took some bollocks to do those jumps and he was a character and us Brits love a character so be proud and make the absolute most of his fame while it lasts. That's it in a nutshell. If you're humble and have a go against the odds we love you for it, win or lose.

 

[fanatic1]

I met him once. He was travelling on a Dover to Calais Ferry on his own and I said "Bloody hell Eddie the eagle isn't it?" He laughed and answered, "Yes embarrassing isn't it?" I told him what others have said on here that it took some bollocks to do those jumps and he was a character and us Brits love a character so be proud and make the absolute most of his fame while it lasts. That's it in a nutshell. If you're humble and have a go against the odds we love you for it, win or lose.

I think he saw some coin out of his experience though. He did go down very well in the States and appeared on the Johnny Carson show alongside Burt Reynolds. They both took the piss out of him in a good way and the audience lapped it up. Before this he was a self employed plasterer (or similar) but he made a decent living for years afterwards on personal appearances and interviews.

 

[paulchapo]