Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael ‘Eddie’ Edwards, an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself - even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach, Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
Eddie’s story is inspirational. Although he was never athletically gifted, from an early age he dedicated his life to achieving one goal: to become an Olympian. Eddie tried his hand at various sports and disciplines, before settling on downhill skiing. Having narrowly failed to make the British team at the Winter Olympics in 1984, however, he switched to ski jumping.
There were several problems here: Britain had never had a ski jumping representative at a Winter Olympics. And Eddie had never even attempted a ski jump before. He was heavier than most ski jumpers; all of whom started at a very early age; he had no funding, very little training and his terrible eyesight meant that he had to attempt jumps while wearing glasses that would dangerously mist up mid-jump.
Yet he never gave up. Begging and borrowing equipment, Eddie was the sole British entrant at the 1987 World Championships, where placing 55th was enough to see him through to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada.
Is there something you can learn from the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude?
Characters:
Dubbed ‘The Eagle’ by the tabloids, he is an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself.
A damaged, cynical man who was kicked out of the US Winter Olympics team at the peak of his powers. He takes Eddie, though very reluctantly at first, under his wing.