'Winter sports are for everyone' - Benjamin Alexander pushes for more diversity in skiing after historic slalom finish

Benjamin Alexander has called on more would-skiers from diverse backgrounds to get into the sport following his previously unthinkable achievement of finishing the men’s giant slalom event. The DJ-turned-skier-turned-Jamaica’s-first-Winter-Olympic-skier has been reflecting on his Olympic experience after finishing 46th overall on a day when a blizzard wreaked havoc on the slopes.

Ad/> Marco Odermatt ultimately took gold but with the weather claiming a number of DNFs, Alexander’s achievement was all the more impressive, especially considering the UK-born athlete had only taken up the sport at the age of 32. /> Beijing 2022'Very difficult' — Mickel breaks down brutal conditions at giant slalom5 HOURS AGO Now 38, Alexander was pleased to complete what he previously called a ‘crazy dream’.

“I feel like a million bucks. My back aches, my legs hurt, but I don’t feel any of that, I just feel incredible to have finished,” he told Eurosport.

“The conditions were gnarly, to say the least. 50% of the field did not finish and there were some pretty horrific crashes, which just brings it down to, you know, this is the real deal.

People get hurt doing this, so to be sitting here with no broken limbs and to have finished both runs, which a lot of my friends didn’t, I’m smiling ear to ear.” Odermatt claims giant slalom gold as blizzard causes havoc ‘Cool Runnings continued' — Jamaica’s first ever Olympic skier fulfils ‘crazy dream’ Jamaica’s first Olympic skier Alexander already thinking about ‘next outlandish thing to do’ Alexander, who has a Jamaican father and grew up in Wellingborough in the UK, opted to represent the West Indian nation in an event in which they previously never had anyone compete. He secured qualification at the