Eddie the Eagle and the dire display that inspired Winter Olympics rule change
dailystar.co.ukdocumentaries, a film, books and numerous celebrity appearances have cemented memories of his display. Many however, do wonder how the now 58-year-old ever qualified to compete at the grandest stage in the first place.Indeed, wearing six pairs of socks to fit into boots, weighing 82 kilograms [he was the heaviest ski jump competitor in Calgary], being totally self funded, and having to wear thick glasses under goggles all amounted to a strange platform from which to be launching a bid at Olympic glory.He had however, represented Britain at the 1987 World Championships in Bavaria, and was ranked 55th in the world.
As the sole British applicant for the event at the Winter Olympics, the statistics made him eligible. Despite his entertaining, and yet admittedly dire, display, the International Olympic Committee [IOC] then opted to spoil the fun. Was Eddie the Eagle's display the worst ever at a Winter Olympic games?
Let us know in the comments section.The party-poopers reacted to the widespread attention Edwards received by making entry requirements even stricter, in a bid to prevent future athletes from appearing despite, well, minimal pedigree.They installed what became dubbed the Eddie the Eagle Rule, which made it mandatory for Olympic hopefuls to compete in international events and be placed in either the top 30 per cent or top 50 competitors, whichever was fewer.
The regulations, just like the aura of Edwards himself, have stood the test of time.To his credit, he didn't quit there. But nor did he compete at the Games again, after failing to qualify in 1992 and 1994.
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