British alpine skier Dave Ryding concluded his Olympic career with a 17th-place finish in the men's slalom at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy. The 39-year-old, known as 'The Rocket,' navigated challenging blizzard conditions in the first run before improved weather in the second. Switzerland's Loic Meillard claimed gold, with Austria's Fabio Gstrein and Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen taking silver and bronze.
Dave Ryding, Britain's most successful alpine skier, bowed out of the Winter Olympics on February 16, 2026, after finishing 17th in the men's slalom at the Stelvio course in Bormio. This marked his fifth and final Olympic appearance, following outings in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022. His best prior Olympic result was ninth place in 2018.
The first run unfolded amid heavy snowfall and poor visibility, with floodlights aiding the competitors. Of 95 or 96 starters, only 44 to 46 completed it. Ryding clocked 59.88 seconds, placing 19th, 3.74 seconds behind leader Atle Lie McGrath of Norway. He described the conditions: "I couldn’t really see what was under my feet."
Conditions cleared for the second run under blue skies, allowing Ryding to finish the course but not advance higher. Teammates Billy Major placed 16th, while Laurie Taylor failed to finish the first run after straddling a gate.
Ryding, who learned to ski on a dry slope at Pendle Ski Club from age eight and did not train on snow until 13, reflected on his career. At 35, he became the first British skier to win a World Cup slalom gold in Kitzbuhel in 2022, securing seven podiums overall. He credited perseverance and a brief stint running a cafe with his wife Mandy for reigniting his passion.
"I really tried everything right until my last turn," Ryding told BBC Sport. "I was quoted on the BBC as saying I would ski until my legs fell off and I kind of feel like they have this year. One season maybe too many, but I had to give it a go. I really went in as always and I'm proud."
Looking ahead, Ryding plans to mentor young skiers while spending more time with Mandy, a former Dutch skier, and their three-year-old daughter Nina. He expressed optimism for British skiing: "I honestly think the next 15 years of British skiing are taken care of. It will only get more and more exciting."
Laurie Taylor praised Ryding's influence: "Everyone coming after Dave is going to be a product of him, inspired by what he's done." Ryding will continue on the World Cup circuit this season before retiring.
