31 Facts About Alain Baxter

Alain Baxter was born on 26 December 1973 and is a Scottish former alpine skier who was formerly a professional specialising in the slalom discipline.

Alain Baxter is best known for failing a drug test after finishing third in the men's slalom of the 2002 Winter Olympics, resulting in him being controversially stripped of the bronze medal; he would have become the first British person to win an Olympic medal in a skiing event.

Alain Baxter was allowed to return to competition, although his appeal to have the medal reinstated failed.

Alain Baxter competed in FIS events from 1991 to 2009 and became known as "The Highlander".

Alain Baxter was born on 26 December 1973 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Alain Baxter is the son of Iain and Sue Baxter, who were both British Ski Team members.

Alain Baxter's father named him after Alan Breck Stewart, a character from the Robert Louis Stevenson novel Kidnapped, who was a rebellious Highlander.

Alain Baxter steadily worked his way through the world rankings, making the top 100 in time for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

Alain Baxter had three other top 10 finishes in 2001.

Ahead of the 2002 Winter Olympics, ski technology was developing rapidly and Alain Baxter knew that his sponsor Head, was struggling to keep up the progress made by other ski manufacturers.

Alain Baxter returned home to Aviemore to a hero's welcome and a parade around the town in an open top bus.

Alain Baxter stated that he had not knowingly ingested, and that he would not make any further statement until the IOC's inquiry and disciplinary commissions ruled on his case.

The International Olympic Committee held a private two-day hearing in Lausanne, where Alain Baxter would be able to speak, with the outcome expected the following week.

Alain Baxter returned the medal, for it to be awarded to Austrian Benjamin Raich.

Alain Baxter later proved the source of levomethamphetamine was from a Vicks inhaler that he had used in the United States.

Alain Baxter had been unaware that the contents were different from those found in the UK version.

Alain Baxter's appeal rested on whether levAmphetamine was performance-enhancing, Vicks and other expert witnesses explained that it was a decongestant, and had negligible stimulant properties.

Alain Baxter did not take a banned substance, as levAmphetamine was not on the list, but it was Dr Catlin's evidence which the appeal committee believed.

Alain Baxter was well respected by the more established skiing nations and his talent was the best the UK had produced.

Alain Baxter competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics at Turin, where he finished 16th in the slalom.

In May 2021, GB Snowsport announced that Alain Baxter was to join the men's Alpine World Cup Squad, having been appointed as a high performance coach for the team.

Alain Baxter was offered a contract to be a professional ice hockey player but he did not take this up, opting to concentrate on skiing.

Alain Baxter played shinty, and turned out for Kincraig Shinty Club when that club was still active.

Alain Baxter won the 2004 British Superstars event, defeating Du'aine Ladejo who had edged Alain Baxter out for the 2003 title.

At the time of announcing his retirement from downhill skiing in 2009, Alain Baxter set out plans to try track-cycling.

Alain Baxter had some assistance from the Scottish Institute of Sport's talent transfer programme.

Alain Baxter made his debut on a track bike racing at Manchester Velodrome on 5 December 2009, in the 200m sprint in the Revolution series.

Alain Baxter had hopes of racing in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Dehli but was finding it difficult to get enough track time given his other commitments, including being part of the BBC's commentary team for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

In 2015, Alain Baxter took part in Red Bull Crashed Ice racing events in Belfast and Quebec as part of a Scottish side.

Alain Baxter's cousin Lesley McKenna is a leading professional snowboarder and winner of two World Cups.

Alain Baxter married businesswoman Sheila Dow in 2006, after the two met at Finlay Mickel's wedding the previous year.