‘Tom Daley has me to thank for Olympics gold medal’ claims Eddie the Eagle

He finally achieved his dream of ­winning gold at the Tokyo ­Olympics but Tom Daley could have an ­unlikely person to thank for his ­success – Eddie the Eagle!

The pair appeared together on diving ­reality show Splash! and ski jumper Eddie – famed for coming last at the 1988 Winter Olympics – cheekily reckons it might have inspired Tom to go for gold.

He says: “One of the Olympic highlights for me was Tom winning the gold.

“I won the first series of Splash! so trained with him and did a synchronised dive with him in the final.

“Then he won a gold medal. I feel like I participated and some of that gold medal should be mine. I’m waiting for a thank-you from Tom.”

It might take Tom a while to make that call – on Saturday morning he is bidding for a medal in the 10m individual platform to add to his gold in the men’s 10m synchro with partner Matty Lee.

Eddie, who appeared on The Masked Dancer as Rubber Chicken, reveals he did get a call from Strictly but turned them down.

While he’s missed the cut for this year’s BBC series, with the names already

being released – including Bake Off’s John Whaite who is set to form half of the first all-male duo – he would be ready to hit the ballroom another time.

Eddie says: “Strictly asked me a few years ago but I was too busy. It’s on my bucket list of things to do – it’d be fun.

“I would love to see Tom Daley do Strictly as well, that would be interesting.”

Eddie, real name Michael Edwards, is now a member of 12 dance clubs and reckons the mental ­benefits are as good as the physical.

“I do modern jive, West Coast swing, Lindy Hop and want to do ballroom,” he explains.

“I like that it’s a mental workout as well as a physical and I think the importance of the power of touch is underrated.

“When you’re dancing to slower music you’re expressing what you hear, so it’s very emotive.

“I dance with guys as much as women and some are better than ladies, so I think it will be good to see two males dance ­together on Strictly.”

Research by award-winning retirement communities operator Inspired Villages found more than 15 per cent of men over 65 don’t have good friends in their local area.

And Eddie has personally seen a boost in socialising since taking up dancing.

The 57-year-old, who held the British ski jumping record from 1988 to 2001, says: “Women are more sociable – they get together and talk all the time. It’s more difficult for men. There are a lot of ladies, and men, I know from dancing so I’ve got more friends than I realise.”

This week Eddie joined in with sporting activities at Inspired Village’s Great Alne Park retirement village in Warwickshire to emphasise the importance of keeping fit and healthy in later life.

He adds: “They’re trying to encourage residents to move more, so they are physically, mentally and emotionally better off.”

As a working-class lad, growing up in Cheltenham, Glos, Eddie – a nickname given to him at school – earned a living as a plasterer with his dad to fund his sport-ing ambition. After struggling to make it as a downhill skier, he turned to ski jumping.

His Winter Olympics dream ­captured the imagination of the globe as he set out on a quest to be the first British ski jumper since 1928 to make the Games.

But while he finished last in both the 70m and 90m events, his good nature and sheer bravery won hearts.

Today he is saddened by the increase in elitism across the board in sport.

“Every sport is becoming elitist,” says Eddie. “To be a runner you used to need a pair of running shoes but now you need top trainers, proper workout routines – everything’s so expensive.

“The National Lottery money has been the biggest help in sport in the last 25 years, but schools should get more equipment so more people benefit from it.”

Eddie’s life was turned into a 2016 film, with Rocketman star Taron Egerton playing him, alongside Hugh Jackman.

And Eddie says: “Taron has done some amazing films since. I have his number on my phone – and Hugh – so maybe we’ll bump into each other one day.”

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While the down-to-earth star had a short-lived music career, he has no time for athletes who chase fame and fortune.

He says: “I had a No.2 hit in Finland and only sing in the bath now. I’d do Eurovision but take some singing lessons first.

“I enjoy the celebrity side. However, I’ve always regarded it as a job.

“There are some athletes who want to win a gold medal and become a celebrity through winning in their sport.

“They should do it for the love.”

●Eddie the Eagle shared his inspirational story at the Inspired Games to motivate the over-65 generation. For more info see inspiredvillages.co.uk

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