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.”