Dave Ryding's Olympic Farewell: No Tears for Britain's Alpine Skiing Legend
There were no tears for 'one in a million' Dave Ryding as The Rocket took his final ride on the Olympic stage at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Competing in his fifth Olympics, Ryding finished 17th in the men's slalom, but his status as Great Britain's most successful alpine skier remains firmly secure and unchallenged.
A Career Built on Grit and Determination
Ryding's best Olympic performance was a ninth-place finish in PyeongChang eight years ago, but his legacy extends far beyond the Olympic rankings. After seventeen grueling seasons on the demanding World Cup circuit, he has accumulated an unprecedented seven podium finishes at the highest level of competition. His most memorable achievement came four years ago with a historic victory on the legendary Kitzbühel piste, a triumph made even more remarkable considering he learned to ski on dry slopes in Pendle rather than the Alpine resorts of traditional skiing nations.
"I wanted to stay in the fight, anything can happen on your good days," Ryding reflected after his final Olympic run. "I think I was quoted as 'I will ski race until my legs fall off' and I think they pretty much have. I have no regrets, I will never look back thinking 'what if?' I gave it my all until the last gate and that is a representation of my career."
Inspiring the Next Generation of British Skiers
Ryding's unconventional path to success has inspired a new wave of British alpine talent. His Milano Cortina team-mates Billy Major and Laurie Taylor, along with Youth Olympic double gold medalist Zak Carrick-Smith, represent the future he helped cultivate. Major himself finished 16th in his second Olympic appearance, demonstrating that Great Britain's skiing program, while lacking the resources of Alpine powerhouses, possesses undeniable spirit and growing capability.
"I know my story was totally unique and I didn't grow up in the Alps but I would still do it again," said Ryding. "It has given me so much. Five-time Olympian, World Cup winner, I really can't ask for more. The younger Brits have been on snow since they were really young and have had so much more exposure than I had. When I look back at where I was at their age, it is laughable to see what I have done."
Life After Olympic Competition
With his competitive Olympic journey concluded, Ryding looks forward to spending more time at home in Lancashire with his wife Mandy and their three-year-old daughter Nina. While he plans to remain involved in the sport, the constant travel of the World Cup circuit won't be missed. His immediate post-Olympic goals are refreshingly ordinary: dropping a few kilograms and improving his Parkrun personal best, which currently stands at just under seventeen minutes.
"I will definitely stay involved in the sport," Ryding confirmed. "I know so much about the sport. Being 39, I have done slalom for so many years that you certainly learn what it takes. I have got to combine it with family life because my wife and daughter have sacrificed me being away a bit too much."
A Legacy of Possibility
Ryding leaves behind more than just results; he leaves a blueprint for what's possible. His career demonstrates that with the right mindset, even the longest odds can be overcome. He expressed strong confidence in the next generation of British skiers, predicting that within fifteen years, athletes like Major and Taylor could achieve World Cup success.
"I have proven that you can win on the World Cup and I really think that over the next 15 years Billy and Laurie, and then the generation after them, are already world junior medallists," he said. "I would put a bit of money on it, saying that it is possible. It is unbelievably hard and competitive in slalom, but the next generation is unbelievable."
As the curtain falls on his Olympic career, Dave Ryding exits not with tears, but with the satisfaction of having pushed British alpine skiing to unprecedented heights and inspired countless others to follow in his tracks.
