EDDIE THE EAGLE

No matter how many people say you can't do something, use that as inspiration to prove them wrong.

I have a big chin. Thick glasses.

Both parents were hard-working and made me work for my pocket money by doing household chores. That taught me the value of money and gave me a strong work ethic.

If there were some people who considered me a joke, I'm sorry about that. But I did not do it for any other reason except that I loved to ski jump, and I had hopes that by my doing it, other people in my country would take up the sport.

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.

You've got to think life can give you some bad knocks; no matter how hard you're knocked, you've got to get up.

I broke my jaw jumping, and I broke my back and my neck in the downhill. This is normal for me.

I don't like bullies or selfishness or people who are grumpy.

I don't regard myself as an entertainer. I don't think that's where my talents lie. It always feels a bit uncomfortable.

The only airline I avoid like the plague is Ryanair. I don't like that, when you book, there are then all of these little extras to pay for, and you end up paying more than just flying with British Airways.

I was like the George Clooney of the ski business.

When I plummeted into infamy in the Calgary Olympics, I never thought that a film would be made about my life.

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

You have to take the rough with the smooth - that's what ski-jumping is all about. You always expect the worst.

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

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

Maybe I am a little bit of a clown, but I am also a serious sportsman.

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.

It takes a lot of guts to jump. If people criticise, I would give them a set of skis and say, 'Do it yourself then.'

I always do the very best I can, and I should be given the opportunity and the right to represent my country.

I actually had huge problems with my glasses steaming up all the time. I had to train very carefully around the limitations caused by wearing them.

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.

I always say my first job is my building trade. The rest comes and goes.

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.

Where is it written that the Olympics are only for winners?