Eddie the Eagle reflects on film and ski jumping career on Radio X
Winter Olympics legend Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards shared memories and future plans during a Radio X appearance this morning.
Edwards joined The Chris Moyles Show to reflect on his journey from Olympic underdog to cultural icon, revealing he has watched the film based on his life more than one hundred times.
He said the 2015 biopic, which starred Taron Egerton, still carries strong emotional meaning for him.
Speaking about the film and public reaction to his Olympic performance, Edwards explained how perceptions have changed over time.
He said: “When all the newspapers were writing about me back in 1988, 38 years ago, they were saying, ‘Oh, he was a flop. He was a failure. He was a super flop. He shouldn’t have been there.’ But then when the film came out, people took a whole new kind of look at me.”
He credited the film with showing audiences the determination behind his journey to compete at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Edwards added that the portrayal of resilience and persistence helped reshape how his sporting career is viewed, saying attitudes have shifted significantly since the film’s release.
During the conversation, Edwards revealed he still enjoys watching the production despite seeing it repeatedly. He told the show: “Oh, I love the film! I’ve seen the film over a hundred times, and it still makes me cry!”
The interview also highlighted Edwards’ continuing passion for skiing and ski jumping decades after his Olympic debut.
Despite now being aged 62, he confirmed he remains active in the sport during winter months and still returns to ski jumping events.
Discussing his ongoing involvement, Edwards said: “I still ski most winters. Most winters I’ll go out at least one, but then sometimes two, three, four or five weeks in the winter.”
He also revealed plans to return to ski jumping later this year to mark an anniversary at a training facility where he previously competed.
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Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am – 10am and on Global Player.