Eddie the Eagle

It's not been a bad life, and I do know that I could never have been a world champion. All I ever wanted to do was be the best I could with what I had, which wasn't very much, really. And that's what I think I did. ”

The births of my two girls were wonderful - I felt proud to have helped bring new life into this world. ”

Life is good, and I'm happy, and I don't know that it would be as good if I'd been the winner in Calgary. ”

I want my life to move on. On the other hand, I can't say no to offers, not when I'm getting £50,000 a year to be Eddie the Eagle. ”

I was living on a loaf of bread a week. ”

Ski jumping is just 10 per cent physical, 90 per cent mental. Some people can't do that. It's not just to do with the fear at the top. It takes a lot of guts to go off the top, but it takes 100 times more courage to jump off the end. ”

I was like the George Clooney of the ski business. ”

A lot of people think I'm really outgoing and confident, but I'm not. I'd much rather sit in a corner and read my book and my paper. I'm quite happy with my own company. ”

I want to prove to the skeptics that I'm not a clown. I'm very serious about what I do. I want to be a good ski jumper who has a sense of humor. ”

There are so many world-class athletes who are great at their sport, but they're so boring. They don't talk, and they can't be interviewed very well. ”