British skiing bosses clipped Eddie The Eagle's wings

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards (Ian West/PA Wire)

The short-sighted ski-jumper captured the hearts of sports fan around the world when he represented Great Britain at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada.

But his own governing body wasn’t so keen – and even agreed on a new rule to prevent him competing at further international competitions.

In an interview with The Sunday Post ahead of a new film about his life, Eddie says the ill-feeling continues to this day. He claims authorities snubbed him ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“My name was put forward by a blind charity to be one of the 8,000 torchbearers during the nationwide relay,” said the 52-year-old. “But they refused.

“They were happy to have people like Will.i.am texting on his phone while carrying the torch.”

Eddie’s fall out with officialdom started almost as soon as he’d landed in his first competition jump in Calgary.

With public interest in the plucky plasterer from Gloucestershire intense, Eddie says the BOA tried to ban him from speaking to the media.

“They thought I was an embarrassment. But that’s not how the other competitors and everyday people saw it. They saw that I was exemplifying the Olympic spirit.

“But there’s that old school tie thing with people in governing bodies, and they thought I was making a mockery of the sport.

“So the British, along with officials from a few other nations, went to the International Ski Federation and they came up with a new rule which meant you had to meet a minimum standard to qualify for the Olympic Games.

“It no longer mattered if you were the only person from your country who competed in the sport.

“So my wings were clipped. In America, they still call it the ‘Eddie the Eagle rule’.”

Forced into retirement, Eddie leapt feet-first into the world of celebrity.

“I was getting 10 marriage proposals a day at one point!” he recalls.

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