Fantastic.

Magnificent.

Almost unbelievable.

Today in Kitzbühel, Dave Ryding from Bretherton in Lancashire became the first-ever British skier to win a gold medal at a World Cup ski race.

Placed sixth after the first round of skiing in the slalom, he notched up a time of 1.41.26 on his second run. In difficult, snowy conditions, none of the following five racers could match it – and amidst scenes of joy and disbelief, he was declared the winner.

Here’s footage of his winning run.

???? ? ???!@daveryding wins Great Britain's ????? ???? Alpine Skiing World Cup gold! ??? pic.twitter.com/MrXnyPkKku

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 22, 2022

No wonder he kissed the snow. It’s the first time in the 55 year history of the World Cup a Brit has ever taken first place. If I was in Kitzbühel, I’d be kissing the snow too.

What a joyful day.

“Do you think Queen Elizabeth is watching this?” asks Norway’s Lucas Braathen (who came second) in this Youtube clip. It was unlikely at the time. But chances are, she will now: as will every committed skier in the UK.

“I guess my name will be in history now,” Ryding said afterwards. You betcha, Dave.

Ryding’s result is actually not as unlikely as you might think: five years ago, in 2017, he came second in the same event, behind Austria’s Marcel Hirscher. Less than two weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics, his timing couldn’t be better.