Share
Kirsty Muir captured the hearts of the nation with a sensational performance in one of the most progressive women’s Freeski competitions ever witnessed on the Olympic stage.
Giving it absolutely everything she had, Muir sealed her second fourth place finish of the Games, surpassing her previous Olympic best of fifth and Great Britain’s best-ever result in Olympic Freeski Big Air.
She opened her final with a beautifully executed right double 1080 mute, stomping the landing to get her first score on the board of 81.75 and immediately put her in contention.
She then raised the bar even higher, throwing down with a massive left double 1620 safety – one of only two 1620s landed in the entire field, to move into a podium position with a combined score of 174.75.
Dropping in reverse order, Muir remained in medal contention until the closing stages, until Italy’s Flora Tabanelli matched her left double 16 to edge ahead and push the Brit outside the podium places by just 3.50 points. Unable to land her final run, Muir ultimately sealed fourth place.
While a medal narrowly eluded her, courage, composure and sportsmanship embodies everything it means to be an Olympian, further cementing her status an icon of the sport.
Dave Ryding marked an incredible end to his legendary Olympic career, dropping into his fifth and final Winter Olympic Games, lining up alongside teammates Billy Major and Laurie Taylor in the men’s Slalom.
Billy Major had a standout charge, laying down an impressive first run to sit 13th at the halfway mark. He followed it up with another strong showing, clocking a combined time of 1:57.25 to secure 16th overall – a powerful response to his DNF on Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 and clear evidence of his continued progression on the world stage.
Ryding followed close behind, sitting in 19th after the opening run, he gave it everything he had on his second run to climb into 17th place, just 0.23 seconds behind Major, ensuring he signed off with another top-20 Olympic finish.
Taylor unfortunately recorded a DNF on the first run after straddling a gate midway down the course, ending his fight early. Nonetheless, his presence alongside Major and Ryding, marked a significant moment for British Alpine Skiing, with three athletes starting in the top 30 at an Olympic Games.
It was a fitting conclusion to Ryding’s extraordinary Olympic journey, while Major and Taylor continue to build momentum as part of an exciting new chapter for British Slalom.
