The Basingstoke-born alpine skier missed out on qualification four years ago but is in scintillating form for his comeback in February.
Taylor achieved a career-high fourth-place finish at his first World Cup of the season in Levi in the men’s slalom to put him on track for a statement return.
“That was a huge boost at the start of the season because I knew that I was capable and I knew I had the speed, but I’d never had such a good position,” said the 29-year-old.
“To get that in the first race of the season really showed me what I’m capable of.
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“I know the speed is there to do that again, so I’m trying to bring that same energy and skiing into the rest of the season.”
With teammate Dave Ryding finishing seventh in the same World Cup, it represented the British team’s best combined performance in the event’s history.
Milano Cortina will mark the first time since 2010 that Team GB will have three men competing in alpine skiing, with Taylor having missed out at Beijing 2022 owing to the team only having two quota places.
It means he will join Ryding and Billy Major in Italy as they look to secure the silverware that will provide a tangible reflection of British alpine skiing’s rising star.
“Since [2022] we’ve been working on bringing down the world rankings to try and get that extra [Olympic] spot unlocked,” said Taylor, whose first Olympics was in PyeongChang eight years ago.
“To come into the season and have a breakthrough to get that position unlocked and all three of us go, it’s four years in the making.
“When the selection was finally confirmed it was definitely a weight off our shoulders and it’s really exciting that we can all go together.”
Taylor finished 26th in the men’s slalom in PyeongChang and helped Team GB to fifth in the team parallel, only narrowly missing out on bronze.
But heading to the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre next month, he will bring form and experience in abundance with a wholly different mindset to eight years before.
“I was a kid back then in comparison to now. I’ve matured a lot physically and mentally, and I’m in a very different place to going into the last Games,” he said.
“Last time it was more about experience whereas this one I feel I can really go in and compete for the top position.”
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