Sports fans will know of Eddie the Eagle, while most recently Tenby fell in love with Wally the Walrus - but with surfing set to make it’s debut at the Olympics in Tokyo, a new name is on the horizon, with Pembrokeshire’s very own challenger - nicknamed ‘Harry the Seagull’ by his fishing friends - aiming to become Wales’ first ever Olympic surfer!

Thirty-four-year-old fisherman Harry Cromwell from Manorbier, will compete in the ISA World Surfing Games this weekend held in El Salvador.

Harry has put himself in with a shout of competing at the Olympic games after notching up a third place finish at the British Surfing Championships held in cold water surfing mecca Thurso in Scotland back in April.

With 12 Tokyo 2020 slots up for grabs, 257 surfers from 52 nations across all continents of the globe are set to gather for the 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games held between May 29 and June 6 in the coastal town of El Tunco.

As surfers from all around the globe look to earn their path to the greatest stage in sport at Tokyo 2020, Harry has used a former UK Olympic skier as part of his inspiration.

“I’d not so long ago watched the film Eddie the Eagle, which I thought was absolutely brilliant, and the boys on the boat were calling me Harry the seagull for a laugh!” Harry told BBC Wales Sport.

“It is so special, and it has come as a bit of a surprise to be totally honest. I went up to the British Championships, and ended up getting a good result.

“It was a shock to me, when the British team said that your’e in the team now, and I was like...ok, so what does that mean? - you’ve got to go to El Salvador!

“To be able to surf against the world’s best is going to be amazing, but yeah to have that goal to get to the Olympics as well, is just something beyond my dreams.

“As a kid growing up, surfing was never really classed as an Olympic sport, it was really more kinda like something the other kids did, but to have it in the Olympics now is amazing, and I think for the up and coming kids, you know the next generation of surfers, this just opens a new window.

“I’m going to give it 150 per cent - I’m going to go all at it, and I’m going to do it with a smile. With others feeling a bit of pressure, I’m just going to be enjoying every moment,” he continued.

Harry who hit he headlines back in 2011 when he and his partner Melissa were filmed for BBC’s fly-on-the-wall TV show Don’t Tell the Bride - where he planned the couple’s dream wedding (with a difference) in secret at Tenby harbour, admits that with four daughters under the age of nine, and dogs, cats, chickens...and even budgies to look after, their household almost resembles a zoo on occasions!

“Being a fisherman is a busy job, its a lot of hours out of the house and a lot of hours at sea, but my girls keep me going...whenever I’m having a bad day or I’m feeling a bit down, I think about their little faces, and it just makes me smile!” he added.

Wife Melissa, who is at home holding the fort, said that Harry left on Monday after saying goodbye to the children after the school run.

“He flew at 6 pm on Monday night after waiting for a negative Covid test,” she said.

“It was an 18 hour journey with three stops, but knowing Harry, once he lands in Surf City, he will down his bags and be straight off to catch the first waves to getting some practice before the competition starts on Saturday!”

On the event this weekend, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said: “These are historical times for surfing. We will crown ISA World Surfing Games Champions and complete the qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

“Once again, we will get to unite the world in peace through our sport’s community, youth, and love.

“While we had to wait a year, the 2021 edition of the World Surfing Games will certainly be one of the most special in history. It has been a challenging time for all around the world, but we have demonstrated our resilience. Our sport and community are stronger than ever.

“From a record number of women, to the world’s best surfers flying their flags, there are many reasons to be excited about what this event and the future of surfing behold.”

You can follow Harry on Instagram under ‘welshhazza’.