Alain Baxter Unfinished Business: The Authorised Biography Of Britain's Olympic Skier

Synopsis

Alain Baxter is Britain's leading skier - the only Briton to have ever won a Winter Olympics medal in the history of the Games. Nicknamed 'The Highlander' he is a one-off, the greatest skier Britain has ever produced. Baxter first skied on the slopes of Aviemore, at the age of 2. By his mid-teens his talent was recognised, and his dream was to challenge for top honours in the sport. Yet in Britain, no funding was available, and so began a ten year slog, driving around Europe, living on overdraft, sleeping in hostels and cheap hotels or in the back of his car. In 2002, at Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Baxter caused the biggest upset by clinching Britain's first ever skiing medal. Agonisingly, the ecstasy was short-lived. No sooner had he returned to a hero's welcome than the call came that he had failed a routine drugs test and would be stripped of his medal. Baxter was stunned and mystified. After Salt Lake there were many dark months as Baxter fought to clear his name and reclaim his medal. For someone who had wanted it so badly, who never wanted anything else, one can only imagine how much that must have hurt. But in his darkest hour came hope. Represented by one of Europe's most respected barristers, and with the backing of the British Olympic Association, Baxter took his fight to sport's highest appeal court. Safe in the knowledge that the tiny trace of Methamphetamine in Baxter's bloodstream had resulted from his innocent use of a US Vicks Inhaler, his legal team went on the offensive. Sensationally, Baxter was cleared but, despite endorsing the verdict, the IOC was steadfast: Baxter would never get his medal back. Today, Baxter dreams of returning to the Olympic podium in Turin in February 2006, of climbing back up the world rankings to his rightful place, at the top of the tree. It would be folly to bet against the extraordinarily determined Highlander finally fulfilling his dream.