The 44-year-old, born in the village of Chulemo in the foothills of Mount Everest and raised in a local monastery, has already attended both Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 - where he finished 92nd and 94th respectively - and will compete in the 15 kilometres classic in the Russian city.

"I have taken four months off work and skied every single day since December to train for this event, but I'm not perfect," Sherpa, a bricklayer who lives in Switzerland, told the Olympic News Service.

"I think there is a very big chance I will finish last.

"But the placing is not important if I can teach young people in Nepal about the Olympic spirit.

"This spirit is in my heart."

Dachhiri Sherpa first put on a pair of skis at 33 years old ©Getty Images


Sherpa has only been skiing for a little over 10 years.

Aged 17, he took up running, which he continued when he moved to Switzerland.

The Nepal Olympic Committee later learned of his sporting achievements and invited him to compete at the 2003 Asian Winter Games in Aomori, Japan - there he donned skis for the first time at 33-years-old and had lessons.

His best career finish yet was eighth in a 15km event in Bulgaria in 2009 and he is expected to retire following the conclusion of Sochi 2014.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]