Eddie the Eagle

I like nothing more than walking down a country lane or along a mountain path - it's not proof that there is anything bigger than ourselves, but I feel very much at peace. ”

I've never really let any kind of negative things affect me, generally. I would take a positive out of the most desperately horrible situation. ”

I'm a positive person who likes to have fun and get the best out of every day. ”

I made my dream come true despite all the obstacles - no money, no training, no skis, no snow. ”

I want to be recognised as exemplifying the Olympic spirit - one of the last true Olympians. ”

I was a true amateur and embodied what the Olympic spirit is all about. To me, competing was all that mattered. ”

I've got two daughters of my own, and I loved watching my children grow up. ”

The worst thing that happened to me as a child was seeing my brother get pushed into a cement mixer. ”

As a child, I was always getting into risky situations with the potential to hurt myself, but mum and dad never stopped me doing what I wanted to do, and they assumed that if I fell and hurt myself, I would learn from that and maybe not do it again. ”

I had no money, no training facilities, no snow, no ski jumps, no trainer, but I still managed to ski jump for my country - and getting there was my gold medal. ”