You can read elsewhere about where the best chances of a British medal lie. Flag-waving aside, the reality is that very few of the fifty-strong British Team stand any chance of coming home with a medal.

Alain Baxter is certainly Britain's best male slalom skier ever, but on current form a top 10 finish would be a great achievement (and still a best ever for a Brit). In with more of a chance is his cousin, Lesley McKenna, who has the podium in sight for the snowboard half-pipe.

But hey, all this medal winning...let's get a little less American and a bit more Olympian. Sometimes it really is the taking part.

Take Laura Donaldson for example. A few years ago Laura was working as a chalet girl for Ski Activity in Meribel. And while she partied with the rest of them, she always took her skiing seriously.

Now, several knee injuries later, she qualified at the last minute and is competing with the best in the world at the Olympics.

Click here to read an interview with Laura to see how she's getting on in the Olympic Village. The Ladies Freestyle is on Saturday 9 February in Deer Valley Resort.

UPDATE 11 FEB

Laura Donaldson put in a solid run in the Ladies Moguls, although she did not make the cut for the top 16 final. 'The competition is so tough at this level', said Donaldson after the event. 'Since working with my new coach, things have really picked up for me. The difference in my skiing now from six months ago is phenomenal. I was delighted to make Olympic qualification and gave it my best shot.'

Useful Links:
Salt Lake City 2002: Schedule of Events
Official Site

Special Salt Lake Update (February 2002)
British Alpine Team (February 2002)
Soccer at Winter Olympics? (December 2001)
Security increase at Salt Lake City (November 2001)
Salt Lake games to go ahead (September 2001)
No booze at Olympics? (March 2001)

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