Nottingham's GB speedskaters all set for Winter Olympics
Feted as a hero as he virtually dropped off the end of the ramp, Edwards' became famous because of his abject failure.
But those Games ago also marked the Olympic birth of one of the most explosive sports in the world – short-track speedskating.
It was only a demonstration sport in those days and one of the pioneers who took part 22 years ago is back in Canada for the 2010 Games in Vancouver – as performance director of the Nottingham-based Great Britain short-track squad.
Local-born Stuart Horsepool was one of the world's best ice racers in his day and is now heading a seven-strong team that spent a week at a holding camp in Calgary.
He was delighted to be staying in the same hotel he did 22 years ago, before moving on to Vancouver late last week.
But he says everything else has changed in the attitude to short-track speedskating these days.
"We now get access to the competition ice, which we never did in the past," said Horsepool, 49.
"We were always the poor relations and usually got to share ice time with the figure skaters.
"But there has been a marked difference in the last five to eight years – since there were four events each for men and women.
"That means there are 24 medals up for grabs and the big nations started investing more money into the programmes to develop the sport.
"As a result, short-track has become better and with a higher profile."
Though Horsepool's share of Britain's sporting pot is tiny by comparison, he is quite relaxed about it.
"Like all winter sports, we struggle to get funding and because we don't get big funding it will always be tough to stay competing at the highest level," he said.
"The cost of London 2012 will also effect funding levels to a degree.
"We can't do much about it but if we do well in Vancouver, I'd like to think things would improve for us.
"Let's face it, we are not a winter sports nation. But that doesn't mean we can't perform alongside the best in the world.
"Our bobsleigh and skeleton teams stand a chance and the Kerr's from Scotland will do well in ice dancing.
"Meanwhile, we've just been quietly getting on with it and the performances have improved.
"We've medalled at all levels, from the juniors to the senior Europeans and world championships and also the World Cup.
"And to win five medals at the European championships recently was just brilliant.
"I was very proud of that and it proves we are heading in the right direction."
Although being named GB coach in 2001, Horsepool has dedicated his life to short-track speedskating.
But he is under no illusions that his current position is very much performance-linked.
"I have to be realistic about this," he said. "I wouldn't still be here if we weren't successful.
"It's like a Premiership football manager. You win, you stay.
"That brings it's own pressure, of course.
"As I've said, the funding is tight but not all winter sports gets funding.
"But we have a relay team ranked sixth in the world and the biggest ever short-track team at the Olympics."
Unlike in the old days of Eddie the Eagle, all of his skaters have to reach a certain level to qualify.
Among those, Sarah Lindsay and 2008 European Champion Jon Eley perhaps have the best chance, while this Games may have come too soon for teenagers Elise Christie and Jack Whelbourne, at 18, the youngest GB competitor.
"Elise has come a long way since she came down from Scotland three years ago as a wide-eyed snotty-nosed 16-year-old," said Horsepool.
"She took a big step forward at the Europeans, while Jack medalled at the junior worlds. It will be interesting to see how they get on.
"Jon and Sarah can both make a mark in the 500m and the men's relay team have a very good chance.
"But such is the nature of the sport, anything can happen on the day. And they just have to be prepared to take advantage when the luck falls their way."
Horsepool was, however, quick to point out that Britain's short-track quest at the Olympics is very much a team affair, both off the ice and on it.
He said: "Relatively speaking, we have a big backroom staff, as I welcomed with open arms the experts who know more about certain aspects of sport than I do.
"As long as they can make a contribution – that's all that counts.
"I'd never have thought that when I started the job, we'd have one of the best physiologists in Dr Stewart Lang helping us.
"There is also the England cricket psychologist Mark Bawden, who offers his expertise absolutely free.
"And of course, former Olympic star Nicky Gooch is the coach.
"The National Ice Centre have also been brilliant. We simply could not have achieved what we have without them. I can't speak highly enough for what the do for us."
Horsepool, though, has regrets as he looks forward to the start of competition on February 13.
Two of his proteges will not be with him.
One of them, Paul Stanley, broke his arm in the Olympics qualifying event in November.
The other is his son Oliver, who has been racing virtually since he could walk.
"It's a shame Paul and Ollie aren't with us, but that is the cruel nature of the sport," he said.
"Ollie broke a talus (ankle) bone when he fell in a race in China and it ended his dream.
"But he's OK with it. It just means the chance for someone else."
Great Britain's short-track speedskating team is: Jon Eley, Anthony Douglas, Paul Worth, Jack Whelbourne, Tom Iveson, Sarah Lindsay and Elise Christie.
The GB team in training
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