Andy Devaney
With almost 30 million Brits following the Winter Olympic Games in Milano, Cortina this month, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards is back in the slipstream of the spotlight—this time via a partnership with Readly, our favourite digital magazine and newspaper app that’s dusting off the archives and pairing them with the latest dispatches from this month’s Games.
If you’re the sort who can’t resist a bit of sporting theatre with your hot chocolate, you’re not alone. Research shared by Readly suggests the nation’s most-followed Winter Olympic events are figure skating (36%), ski jumping (32%) and bobsleigh (29)—a statline that practically hums the Cool Runnings theme tune on its own. Ice hockey (25%), snow boarding (24%), curling (21%) and speed skating (21%) round out the British favourites.
And here’s the lovely twist: when it comes to the Winter Olympics, the medal table doesn’t get the final word. Brits may admire the clinical brilliance of champions, but our fondest memories often belong to the legends, the characters and the glorious outsiders who turned the Games into a national chat over tea.
According to Readly’s research of 1,000 adults, Torvill & Dean’s gold-winning Boléro at Sarajevo 1984 topped the list of all-time Winter Olympic moments (44%). The Jamaican bobsleigh team’s Calgary 1988 run landed second (28%). And—still soaring on pure goodwill—Eddie the Eagle’s ski jumping performance took third (27%).
Other moments namechecked in the research include Robin Cousins taking gold in figure skating, Eve Muir winning gold in curling and Lizzy Yarnold defending her olympic title in the skeleton—proof that British sporting memory is equal parts excellence and emotion.
For his part, Eddie sounds both amused and genuinely touched that his Calgary caper still resonates.
“It’s fantastic to see that people remember and appreciate my efforts in Calgary almost thirty years ago. The Winter Olympics is fascinating to follow, you never quite know what’s going to happen and it’s great to look back on some of these entertaining moments that create a spectacle and grip the nation for years to come.
Of course, for some it’s all about going for gold and winning year after year and that is wonderful to see. For me, just participating was the gold medal but if I had my time again, I’d try cross skiing or cross boarding! It’s heartwarming to see so many people following the nations athletes and wanting to read not just the latest issues but also look back at memorable moments from Winter Olympics gone by too”, says Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, English ski jumper and Olympian
That mix—modern obsession, vintage goosebumps—is exactly what Readly is leaning into with its first Olympic series. The platform, which says it offers readers access to over 8,000 titles, is bundling standout issues covering unforgettable Winter Olympic moments alongside current coverage from the Milano Cortina Games.
“This is the first time Readly, the digital magazine and newspaper app with over 8,000 titles, has offered its readers an Olympic series and coincides with the Winter Olympics taking place this week in Cortina, Milan. The Winter Olympic Series includes standout issues covering some of the most memorable moments in Winter Olympic history plus all the latest Winter Olympic issues from the Milano Cortina Games.”
For Readly’s Head of Content UK, Chloe Rushmere, the appeal is in that full-spectrum feast: the icons, the deep dives, and the modern-day drama served fresh.
“We’re thrilled to give our subscribers unrivalled access to the history of the world’s biggest winter sporting event through archives from Eddie the Eagle and Torvill and Dean’s day to in-depth Winter Olympic features and all the latest news and special winter games issues.
Alongside this, Readly readers can dive into standout editorial spanning skiing destinations, fashion, fitness and the personalities shaping the season. It’s a beautifully rich collection that lets subscribers deep dive into the Games, all while enjoying their favourite titles in the Readly app,” says Chloe Rushmere, Head of Content UK at Readly.
No surprise, then, that the reasons Brits give for following the Winter Olympic Games are as much about feeling as they are about sport. Readly’s research cites the intrigue of “superhuman powers” and sporting prowess (37%) as the top driver, followed by supporting the national team (20%), escaping the winter blues (20%), uplifting news (18%) and winter travel inspiration (13%).
In other words: yes, we love the winners. But we also love the moments that wobble, sparkle, surprise—and occasionally fly a little closer to the sun than the sensible among us would advise.
And that’s why Eddie “The Eagle” still matters. Not because he conquered the hill, but because he made the hill feel conquerable—at least for a few delirious minutes—by anyone brave enough to go first.
