GB alpine ski star Dave Ryding: "I don’t feel much older than 25"

It's been a memorable 2022 so far for Team GB alpine skier Dave Ryding.

In January, the 35-year-old claimed a historic win in World Cup and then he had the honour to carry the British flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Games, along with Scottish curler Eve Muirhead.

"It's been a great year so far, but I’ve got to remember what got me there and make sure I keep doing it - that's how I hopefully keep doing these great things," said Ryding, who races in the Winter Olympic men's slalom on Wednesday.

"The World Cup victory takes a huge pressure off my shoulders - to finally do it - and just reiterates that I'm doing the right things and need to keep doing them."

The slalom specialist, who learned to ski on a dry slope in North West England when he was eight, made his World Cup debut in 2009 and he's what people call a 'late bloomer'.

He started to collect World Cup points in 2013 and had to wait until he was 31 to make his first of four podiums.

Now at 35, Ryding is at his fourth Winter Games, while he's probably living the best time of his career: how can he explain this extraordinary longevity? "I've always respected my body. I came to the sport a bit later than a lot, so maybe in my younger years I didn't bash my body as much, which for sure helps because you set your knees,” he said.

"They certainly wear out eventually, but I'm sitting here with no aches and pains. I'm feeling well, I don't know how you feel at 35, but I don't feel much older than 25."

The Lancashire-born skier revealed how work ethic was key in keeping him fit at his age: "I think it's day by day, just trying to be better than the day before. Keep working hard even if you're tired or you don't want to do it, you’ve just got to do it. It’s