Dave Ryding, Team GB’s greatest-ever Alpine skier, he is ‘immensely proud” to have “elevated the sport” in Great Britain as he takes to the slopes for his final Olympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026.
The 39-year-old became the first Briton to win an alpine skiing World Cup gold at Austria’s Kitzbuehel Stadium in 2022 and has announced his retirement at the end of the 2025/26 season.
That result is one of seven career World Cup podiums for Ryding, with his first coming at the same venue in 2017 where he claimed silver.
At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships earlier this year, Ryding’s sixth-place finish was not only his best result, but it was also Team GB’s best result since 1934.
“I think everyone will know that winning that World Cup was definitely the highlight [of my career],” he said.
“I think I banged my head against a wall for a number of years trying to get that win.
“It showed to me that I was capable of it. I’m immensely proud that I've elevated the sport and elevated what everyone expects that Brits can achieve on the slopes.”
Nicknamed ‘The Rocket’, Ryding, who was born in Bretherton, Lancashire, first took up dry-slope skiing aged six at Pendle Ski Club and made his bow on the snow six years later.
But despite walking a less-trodden path into the sport - with most of his competitors beginning their skiing careers on the white stuff - Ryding has gone on to have a successful career.
He recorded his best-ever individual Olympic finish of ninth at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, one of two top 10 finishes at the competition alongside his fifth place in Team Parallel.
Ryding, who has been regularly competing on the World circuit since 2009, revealed that he still has goals driving him forward during his final campaign on the slopes and will do all he can to achieve them before he hangs up his skis for good in Italy.
“I'm certainly not taking this as a swansong year or a cruise around the Alps,” continued Ryding, who also has three World Championships top 10 finishes to his name.
“I’ve never done this sport for a jolly around the Alps, but for results.”
“I just want to add to my legacy and ideally, I'd like to become the oldest World Cup slalom skier on a podium, I was 12 days too young for that record with my last podium, so that's still a box that I feel is achievable and I would like to tick.
“My best finish at the Olympics is 9th, so realistically, I think that's a result that can be bettered too.
“There’s a lot still motivating me, but I think I’ve relieved the long-term pressure now I’ve got that finish line.
“If you’re doing a run let’s say, if you've got that finish line to aim for, then maybe you'll get a bit more out of yourself in the last kilometre, and that’s what I’m hoping to do.
“I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received throughout my racing career, from the fans, teammates, sponsors, the media, and everyone who’s helped me live out my dream over the past fifteen years.
“Now I’m just focused on getting my head down and making sure I’m in the best possible shape to go out with a bang this Olympics.”
Ryding goes in the men's slalom on 16 February
Sportsbeat 2026