Michael Edwards, the British sports icon better known as 'Eddie the Eagle', has traded the dizzying heights of Olympic ski jumps for a different kind of spotlight: the Christmas pantomime stage. The 62-year-old, who captured the nation's heart at the 1988 Calgary Games, is now starring as Professor Crackpot in a production of Beauty and the Beast.
From Olympic Slopes to Theatrical Stages
Edwards recently confessed to experiencing a familiar flutter of nerves, but this time it wasn't about launching himself off a 90-metre ski jump. It was the opening night jitters of performing live theatre to a packed house of children at the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, outside London. This marks his second foray into pantomime, a world away from the perilous sport that made him a household name.
His enduring fame is a testament to his unique story. Despite finishing last in both the 70m and 90m events at the 1988 Winter Olympics, his enthusiastic underdog spirit and distinctive look—complete with thick, pink-rimmed glasses—made him a global sensation. He still set a British record of 71 metres in Calgary, finishing 19 metres behind his nearest competitor but winning the adoration of a crowd of 85,000.
A Bumpy Road to Olympic Glory
Edwards' path to becoming Britain's first Olympic ski jumper was fraught with hardship. Growing up in the Cotswolds, far from snowy mountains, he taught himself on the short dry slope at Gloucester Ski Centre. At 22, he moved to Lake Placid, New York, to train, scavenging for equipment and surviving on meagre means. He slept in a car, barns, and even a Finnish mental hospital when funds ran low.
His body paid a heavy price for his ambition. He suffered multiple fractures, including two skull fractures, a broken jaw, and a collarbone shattered in five places. "It would be easier to name the bones I haven't broken," he quipped in a recent interview. His efforts were nearly thwarted by British sports federations, but he qualified for Calgary regardless, arriving to find a sign welcoming 'Eddie the Eagle'—a nickname he didn't yet realise was for him.
Life After the Jump: Fame, Setbacks, and a New Act
Following the Olympics, Edwards enjoyed years of celebrity. "My feet didn't touch the ground for about three and a half, four years," he recalled, describing a whirlwind of global appearances. However, the skiing establishment was less enamoured. The introduction of the so-called 'Eddie the Eagle rule' set a minimum qualifying distance that ended his competitive career, forcing a return to his family's plastering trade.
Fame returned in waves. A win on the reality diving show Splash! in 2013 was followed by the 2016 biographical film Eddie the Eagle, starring Taron Egerton, which allowed him to retire from plastering for good. He now earns a living through speaking engagements. His current panto role cleverly incorporates his legacy; Van Halen's Jump heralds his entrance, and he later appears in a replica of his baby blue Calgary suit to 'fly' off a stage jump.
Reflecting on his journey, Edwards stated, "I'm always very, very grateful that I got christened Eddie The Eagle... I'm hoping that I encourage other people to get out there, get off their bum and go for their dream." Nearly four decades after his Olympic leap, Eddie the Eagle is still landing on his feet, this time to the roar of a panto audience.
