Entertainment·Video

Eddie the Eagle revisits underdog story of U.K.'s first Olympic ski jumper

A new film inspired by the underdog story of unlikely sports hero Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards is transporting audiences back to the 1980s and the world of competitive ski jumping.

Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman star in tale inspired by real life

Eddie the Eagle's Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman

9 years ago
Duration 3:08
The stars of the new sports bio-pic Eddie the Eagle discuss the 'crazy, rock-star' world of competitive ski jumpers.

At the 1988 Calgary Games, sometime plasterer-and-ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards became the underdog hero of the Olympics. 

As Britain's first Olympic ski jumper, the affable young Edwards — self-funded, near-sighted and, ultimately, last-placed — leaped into the hearts of millions of fans worldwide with his unabashed perseverance and love of the sport.

A new film inspired by his story had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in January, ahead of hitting theatres later this month.

In the video above, Eddie the Eagle stars Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton talk to CBC News reporter Eli Glasner about the "crazy," "rock-star" world of competitive ski jumping.