Michael "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards has launched a new career as a sports commentator, providing commentatary on some of the world's worst international ski-jumpers at the Asian Winter Games in Kazakhstan, The Telegraph reported.
Edwards, who won fame as an underdog hero at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, was quick to honour the Chinese team, who braved the 120m ski jump, even though they had only had a 50m jump to practice on back home.
"I think they did very well considering they didn't even have a ski jump," Mr Edwards said. "They weren't bad jumpers but they were a long way behind everybody else."
The worst performer in the Chinese team, Xing Chenhui, managed to cover only 70m of the 120m distance in one of his jumps, 20m less than any other competitor, and 60m less than the longest jumper, earning his team just 2.5 points. The top four competitors, in contrast, scored over 100.
In all, the Chinese team received 351 points, less than half the 770 received by the Koreans, the next worst of the four teams competing.
"Even if I'd jumped in Kazakhstan last week, I would have been able to beat one or two of the Chinese guys," said Edwards.
Mr Edwards was hired by Simon Reed, a Eurosports commentator and the brother of late actor Oliver Reed, to supply commentary for Kazakhstan's state broadcaster during the games, which ended on February 6.
"Half my money is still from Eddie-the-Eagle work," he said. "I'm amazed I'm as busy as I am, seeing as its 22 years since Calgary."
Mr Reed said he planned to hire Mr Edwards in future. "Eddie was terrific, strong on insight and detail and full of 'The Eagle's' old enthusiasm. He was a joy to work with."