No medals but still remembered

YOU DON’T need to be a champion to win a place in the nation’s heart as these nohopers proved. Who could forget Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards? The British ski jumper shot to fame during his last-place performance at the 1988 Winter Sports in Calgary. “I ended up getting more attention than the guy who won – a few officials really didn’t like that,” he said.

As a result, the International Olympic Committee changed the rules so only those above a certain Olympic standard could take part in the future. “I was effectively forced into retirement,” said Eddie, “but I was just exemplifying the true Olympic spirit of taking part as an amateur athlete.”

Olympic historian Philip Barker said: “Someone like Eddie the Eagle is normal. You could meet him down your local. People embraced him because he was the every- man doing an Olympic sport. He used to practise ski jumping on the roof.”

Another memorable name is Eric the Eel, aka Eric Moussambani, whose time of 1:52.72 for the 100m freestyle went down in history in the 2000 Olympics, although, in his defence, his time was a personal best and a national record.

This year’s Olympic also-rans include Hamadou Djibo Issaka (Issaka the Otter) who finally managed to fight his way over the finishing line of the men’s single sculls in 8:39.66, and 16-year-old debutant judoka, Wojdan Shaherkani of Saudi Arabia who lasted just one minute and 22 seconds against a woman 12 years her senior and far more experienced.

But the crowds roared them on nevertheless – which says more about the spirit of the Olympics than any sponsorship deal could.