SKI'S MY HERO

GB's great new slalom hope Ryding says Alain Baxter was a god to me if l win a medal I will cut it in two and give him half

- ALEX SPINK

DAVE RYDING has vowed to share any medal he wins at the Winter Olympics with the Briton stripped of his 20 years ago.

The 'Rocket' will join curler Eve Muirhead as one of Team GB's two flagbearers at tonight's opening ceremony in the Bird's Nest stadium.

It is recognition for becoming the first Briton ever to win an alpine skiing World Cup gold, in the slalom at Kitzbuhel last month.

But Ryding says he still ranks behind Alain Baxter, who won the nation's only Olympic ski medal – before testing positive for a banned substance.

He said: “I think you're judged on the way the next generation perceives you and I remember watching Alain and thinking he was God.