Editing Eric Moussambani (section)

== Similarly acclaimed athletes ==
Some other athletes at the 2000 Olympics were compared to Moussambani, with ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' compiling a list of "Worst Performances by Non-Equatorial Guineans" that included [[Mariana Canillas]], [[Eka Purnama Indah]], [[Martinho de Araujo]], [[Sirivanh Ketavong]], and [[Jean Patrick Aladd Sahajasein]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/10/09/scorecard-sydney-mysteriesiverson-trash-talkanna-loses-love-match|title=Scorecard Sydney Mysteries--Iverson Trash Talk--Anna Loses Love Match|website=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=31 March 2025}}</ref>

In subsequent Olympic Games, international media occasionally referred to Moussambani's potential successors—athletes who might record poor times. Before the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], media in several countries—including Australia, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom—suggested that [[Stany Kempompo Ngangola]], a swimmer from DR Congo, would be the Olympics' next "Eric the Eel".<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/anden_sport/svoemning/article4323175.ece |title=Mød Stany the Stingray |publisher=Ekstra Bladet |date=15 August 2008 |first=Michael |last=Winther-Rasmussen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-15 |title=En Sydney fue Mussambani; en Pekín, el congoleño Ngangola |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/en-sydney-fue-mussambani-en-pekin-el-congoleno-ngangola-nid1039890/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=LA NACION |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=a9660bee-6b7e-4bf0-b985-d70a5f5153bf |title=Move over Eddie the Eagle and éric the Eel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821043435/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=a9660bee-6b7e-4bf0-b985-d70a5f5153bf |archive-date=21 August 2008 |publisher=The Gazette |date=15 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-14 |title=Stany the stingray |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/stany-the-stingray-20080814-gdsqia.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/the-snail-takes-up-where-the-eel-left-off-897425.html |title='The Snail' takes up where 'The Eel' left off |newspaper=The Independent |date=15 August 2008}}</ref> The media also described ni-Vanuatu sprinter [[Elis Lapenmal]] and Palestinian swimmer [[Hamza Abdu]] as "potential successors to Moussambani".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sands |first=Neil |date=2008-07-06 |title=Lovable losers - the Olympic ideal or waste of space |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/lovable-losers--the-olympic-ideal-or-waste-of-space-20080706-32hv.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} </ref> During the Games, [[Cook Islands]] swimmer [[Petero Okotai]] compared himself to "Eric the Eel" upon recording a disappointing time in his event.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/sports/23iht-23olylast.15571109.html |title=Games also mean coming in last |newspaper=International Herald Tribune |date=23 August 2008 |first=Christopher |last=Clarey}}</ref> In the 2016 Olympic Games, [[Ethiopian]] swimmer [[Robel Habte]] was dubbed "Robel the Whale" after finishing half a lap behind his competitors in the 100-metre freestyle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Tom |title=This Ethiopian Olympic swimmer has become an internet sensation after finishing half a lap behind his rivals |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ethiopian-olympic-swimmer-becomes-internet-sensation-after-coming-last-2016-8 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 IAAF World Championships]], various media around the world, including ''[[La Nación]]'' and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', described [[American Samoa]]n sprinter [[Savannah Sanitoa]] as "the new Eric 'the Eel' Moussambani".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/6038316/World-Athletics-shot-putter-Savannah-Sanitoa-overshadows-Usain-Bolts-sprint-exploits.html|title=World Athletics: shot-putter Savannah Sanitoa overshadows Usain Bolt's sprint exploits|date=16 August 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2009-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1163478|title=Sanitoa, la nueva Moussambani|date=17 August 2009|work=La Nación|language=es|access-date=2009-08-20}}</ref> [[London 2012 Olympic Games|London 2012]] Olympic rower [[Hamadou Djibo Issaka]] of Niger was compared to Moussambani for his times of 8:25.56 in the [[Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls|men's single sculls]] qualifying heat and 9:07.99 in the E Semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anglesey |first=Steve |date=2012-07-29 |title=Issaka The Otter: Novice from Niger is new Eddie The Eagle after super-slow sculls |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/niger-rower-hamadou-djibo-issaka-1185103 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Sculling Sloth' back on water at London Olympics |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/oly/id/8217217 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Both times were over a minute off the next closest competitor in each race. Moussambani's exploits also triggered comparisons to the [[1988 Winter Olympics]], when both British ski-jumper [[Eddie the Eagle]] and the [[Jamaica at the 1988 Winter Olympics#Bobsleigh|Jamaican bobsled team]] became objects of interest and amusement due to their improbable participation in their sports.