GB’s Dave Ryding Ends His Olympic Career
16th February 2026
GB’s greatest alpine ski racer Dave Ryding has brought the curtain down on his long Winter Olympic career with 17th place in the slalom at the Milan-Cortina Games. It is his fifth Olympics. UPDATED
The first run on the Stelvio in Bormio went ahead in a blizzard.
The floodlights were on in an attempt to provide some visibility for the racers.
Many of the world’s best struggled.
The new Olympic Giant Slalom champion, Lucas Pinheiro Braaten, was among a long list of contenders who failed to complete the course.
Dave dug deep in worsening conditions, but crossed the line 3.74s behind the leader, Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath.
It was good enough for 19th place in the first run with one more run to follow.
Dave Ryding at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
Not too bad as it turned out, especially as, of 95 starters, only 44 made it to the finish line.
“I couldn’t really see what was under my feet,” Dave told the BBC after his run.
“Let’s see if I can find one last run, let’s see what I can do.”
Just before Dave went for run two, the BBC presenter and four-time Olympic ski racer, Chemmy Alcott, put it perfectly:
“Whatever happens today is irrelevant because the impact of Dave Ryding will last for a long, long time.”
Fortunately, the weather cleared for run two.
Dave successfully negotiated all the gates from top to bottom to bow out of his long and remarkable Olympic career.
Dave Ryding waving goodbye at the end of his last Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
Ryding was one of three Team GB skiers in the race, with Billy Major finishing one place higher in 16th, but Laurie Taylor straddled a gate on his first run.
“As much as I’ve helped them, they’ve helped me,” Ryding said of his team-mates.
“It’s over to them, I might have to sign on in a few weeks!
“It feels right, I feel ready and I’m looking forward to the future.”
He is adamant he will stay in the sport in some capacity and is keen to mentor young skiers.
Billy Major paid his own tribute to his teammate and good friend.
“I’ve still got a while left in ski racing,” said Billy.
” I don’t know if I’ll make to 39, that’s quite a thing to do, but I’m immensely proud of him and Laurie (Taylor) and other talent coming through,” he told the BBC.
“It’s great to see that British skiing is getting stronger and stronger, and that’s what we want to continue, for things to grow and move in the right direction, and with the support, anything’s possible.
“Dave showed it and we’ll make sure we get that.”
There have been tributes from PlanetSKI readers to Dave’s final Olympic appearance over on the PlanetSKI Facebook page:.
Jo Taylor: Congratulations Dave. What a career.. what a legend! Thank you.
Nicole Pelletier: Beautiful performance, Dave! Bittersweet joy seeing you cross that finish line.
Lynette Maxwell: Thank you and congratulations.
Russ Sparkes: Fabulous work Mr Ryding. Be proud because we are!
Ian Phillips: Great skiing today Dave.
Ian Stones: Always an inspiration. The next generation have a big hole to fill. Here’s to your next chapter.
Tracy Williamson: A fantastic ambassador, a true legend. Always gave 100%, always positive and supportive to the young men coming through. You’ll be missed by so many champ.
Premiere Neige Ski Holidays: A true legend and such a gentleman when he was training in Sainte Foy -had time for everyone.
Ian Findlater: Dave my friend I have watched you over the years and you have done your country proud. Always one to please and give it 100%. You are a true professional and a gentleman, I am sure will see a lot more of you now on our TVs and just like Chemmy, the powered to be should snap you up what an Ambassador.
June Partington: Thank you Dave for your inspirational example of true sportsmanship enjoy now.
Sally Tidman: Thank you for your dedication. You have inspired a lot of young people (and probably older ones too) to take up skiing. I hope the future is kind to you.
Andi Smith: Amazing!
Mike Kochalski: Well done Dave, a fantastic career, you are a credit to the sport.
Last summer Dave announced that Milan-Cortina 2026 would be his last Olympic Games:
Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Image © PlanetSKI
This was Dave’s 5th Olympic Games since he started at the Vancouver Games, Canada, in 2012.
Next:
- Sochi, 2014
- Pyeongchang, 2018
- Beijing, 2022
On the eve of his final Olympic race in Bormio in Italy he said “I’ve had a really long career, a really successful career.”
The 39-year-old slalom specialist became the first British alpine skier to win a World Cup race as he topped the podium at Kitzbuehel in 2022.
As a winner his name adorns one of its gondolas.
Ryding & his gondola. Image c/o Kitzbühel Tourisme
In the 2025 World Championships he sealed GB’s best result by a male since 1934 by finishing 6th.
Dave has been a great friend of PlanetSKI over the years and has always found the time to speak to us whenever we asked for an interview, despite his busy schedule.
PlanetSKI’s James Cove & Dave Ryding. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel with Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Image © PlanetSKI
Earlier on PlanetSKI we looked back at his long racing career in a two-part special:
Dave Ryding on an early family ski holiday to the Alps
Dave Ryding. Image © PlanetSKI
Despite this being his last Olympic Games he is continuing to race on the World Cup circuit this season and we look forward to seeing Dave bring his stellar career to a conclusion.
He will then no doubt be spending more time with his wife Mandy and their daughter, Nina.
Dave Ryding with wife Mandy and daughter Nina in Schladming Jan 2024. Image © PlanetSKI
Dave is hugely popular with his fellow professionals and ski racing fans across the world.
We have never met anyone that has a bad word to say about ‘The Rocket’.
He remains the best alpine ski racer GB has ever produced, and his status as a ski legend both in Great Britain and across the ski world is secure and unquestionable.
Many think it will be a long time before we see his like again.
But Dave himself has another view.
“The next generation really believes and talks about podiums like it’s a normal thing,” Dave said to ‘Ski Sunday’ before the Games.
“To be ranked in the top 30 for 11 years and the top 15 for nine years, it was a constant visual thing for kids to watch.
“I think the belief that I will leave with the next generation is the biggest thing that will come from my career.
“I’m sure they will go on to bigger and better things than I have.”
“I honestly think the next 15 years of British skiing are taken care of.
“It will only get more and more exciting.”
Related Articles:
- Ryding in Top Ten in Val d’Isere
- Ryding Calls for Slalom Races to be Moved to Higher Altitude
- Ryding is 7th best slalom skier in the world
- Ryding gets his own gondola in Kitzbuehel
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