Who is Dave Ryding? When is Team GB Winter Olympics 2022 medal hopeful skiing in men’s slalom at Beijing Games

This year’s Winter Olympic Games have been a struggle for Great Britain so far.

Team GB are yet to make it onto the medal table, with no silverware in the bag just yet.

But there is still plenty of hope, and one of the biggest is 35-year-old slalom skier Dave Ryding, who has come into these Olympic Games in fine form.

This year will likely be Ryding’s last shot at an Olympic medal, and he has already said he is going all out for a medal.

But who is he? And what can we expect from the experienced skier? Here’s all you need to know, including when to catch him in action.

Who is Dave Ryding?

Ryding is an Alpine Ski racer born in Bretherton, Lancashire in 1986.

He is 35 years of age and he has been skiing since age eight, first taking to the snow four years later, aged 12.

Ryding started competing in 2007 and this is his fourth Olympic games.

His career so far

Ryding made his breakthrough by competing in the 2009 World Championships, where he finished 41st in the giant slalom, aged 22.

He has since competed in six World Championships, with his best finish being 39th.

In the Olympics, Ryding finished 27th in the slalom and 47th in the giant slalom in the 2010 games. He managed a 17th placed finish in 2014 and achieved his best finish yet in 2018, finishing ninth.

As far as rankings go, Ryding’s best slalom position is eighth, reaching the peak in 2008, and he is currently 11th.

He came into these games on the back of a big race win in Austria late last month.

What Ryding has said

It’s all-or-nothing for Ryding heading into these games, and he told the BBC he is putting it all on the line.

He said: “I've got to fear nothing and that includes a DNF [did not finish]. I have whittled it down to ninth, let's whittle it down some more if I can. It will be do or die, anything can happen."

When will Ryding compete?

Ryding will start his participation in these Olympic games from 3.15am on Wednesday morning.

That’s when the men’s slalom will begin, and there will be just under 80 riders in total. Fellow Brit Billy Major will also be competing in this event, so there will be two to cheer for.

You can watch all the action on the BBC.