Para-Alpine skier and Australian flag-bearer Mitch Gourley ready for final Winter Paralympics

Once a young star burdened by the weight of Australia's hopes and his own expectations, a more reflective Mitch Gourley is finding freedom and enjoyment in the final weeks of his para-alpine skiing career.

Pyeongchang 2018:

Sochi 2014:

Vancouver 2010:

Less than four months after he emerged from an almost-three-year hiatus, Gourley will sign off from para-alpine skiing at his fourth and final Winter Paralympics in Beijing, starting with Saturday's downhill event.

The 30-year-old has mapped his thoughts on his personal Instagram page in the build-up, pulling up old photos and prized memories to thank the various people who have contributed to a decorated career which began when he was a 15-year-old schoolboy.

«I've known for quite a while this was going to be my last Games and the end of my career,» Gourley said.

«It was just something I'd wanted to own and have out there and be comfortable with and not have to field those uncomfortable questions [like], 'Will you go another four years?' — all those kind of things. It was nice to do that.

»I'd been looking back at some old photos and journalling for my own purposes and writing things down and then I decided I'd do something I don't normally do, which is jump on social media and really thank everyone that's been a part of these 16 years of my life.

«It's more than half of my life, so it's a pretty big part of who I am as well as the athlete I am. It's been really nice to reflect.»

Gourley had plenty of time to contemplate what he wanted to say.

He initially took a deliberately extended break after breaking his right wrist in a nasty crash at the World Championships in January 2019.

But his «long-service leave» turned into two years and 10 months away from international competition —