Musgrave aims to make fifth Winter Olympics his best

Scottish cross-country skier Andrew Musgrave says he would "take more pride" in his remarkable Winter Olympics record "if I had won some medals".

The 35-year-old is set to make his fifth Games appearance in Italy next month.

That will place him one behind Mike Dixon (cross-country skiing & biathlon), who has the British record with six Winter Olympics between 1984 - 2002.

"I would take more pride if I had won some medals," Musgrave told BBC Scotland. "My goal is always not to go there just to be there, it's to go there and perform.

"I feel like I have never quite got out what I have been good for at the Games.

"For me, the Olympics isn't about the number of times you have been there it is about your performance when you are there, so I don't think I would quite put myself on the footing with the people that have come home with a medal."

Musgrave grew up in Aberdeenshire but relocated to Norway 17 years ago.

He has enjoyed plenty of highs during his near two-decade long career, including five individual World Cup podium finishes.

So does he view himself as a trailblazer for others who may want to follow in his snowy footsteps?

"I don't think I have ever thought about it during my career," he said. "I have just always been focused on racing and on what I am doing there and then. I have been super lucky to have had people that have helped me the entire way.

"If I look back, definitely what we have done has opened a path for people behind us but there were always people working alongside me."

Musgrave's most eye-catching Winter Olympic showing came in South Korea in 2018 when he finished seventh in the 30km skiathlon.

"In 2014 and 2018 I managed to get ill," he explained. "In 2022 I was actually in good form but it was high altitude and I am not the best racer at high altitude.

"But now we are going to a track I know, in Europe. I have performed well there before and it's not altitude. Everything sort of suits me so I think this time it is going to be good."

As one of the more experienced members of Team GB, might this be the final time we see Musgrave on this stage?

"It is quite likely my last Olympics but never say never," he said. "I haven't taken any decisions about how long I am going to continue my career.

"I am going to take it year by year. If I am still enjoying it, I still feel like there are areas I can improve and, if I can make it work financially, then I will keep going.

"If I am not enjoying it or it seems like I am getting worse and worse, then I am probably going to pull the plug.

"I get inspired by (alpine skier) Dave Ryding, who is four years older than me, so, if I keep going as long as him, then I do have another Olympics in me."