WITH THE 2022 GAMES UPON US WE SPEAK TO TEAM GB’S SHINING STARS AS THEY PREPARE TO GO FOR GOLD BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS

‘It’s been crazy since I won… I even had a call from the Earl of Wessex’
Dave Ryding

It was a big boost for Team GB ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, which begin in Beijing on 4 February. Slalom star Dave Ryding became the first British skier to win a gold medal in the Alpine World Cup in its 55-year history. Dave’s victory came a day after he was named in the team heading to Beijing with 49 other athletes. At the age of 35, he recently confirmed it would be his last Olympics. Here, we take a look at him and some of the other Team GB medal hopefuls heading to Beijing to compete in the Games.

DAVE RYDING

Slalom champ Dave is off to Beijing fresh from his amazing victory in Kitzbühel, Austria, and after receiving a surprise phone call from the Earl of Wessex.

He tells hello!: “It’s been crazy since I won; from people celebrating on the slopes to thousands of messages on my social media. [Fellow Olympians] Greg Rutherford, Lizzy Yarnold and some of the sailors have messaged me and I even had a call from HRH the Earl of Wessex, as he is a patron of GB Snowsport.

“We were talking about the result and what it’s like to go to an Olympics. It was a real honour to talk to him. I hope I didn’t embarrass myself.”

Dave says of his win: “I hope it gives a good buzz to the team. As for my chances of repeating my victory, I am skiing well and I’m working hard to being in the best shape. As soon as you stop the hard work, which has got me to where I’ve got to, that’s when I won’t