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 flag bearers 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 maintains 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.
“Whatever I achieve, he will always be up there. If he didn't do what he did in Salt Lake who knows if I would have had the drive, the belief, to do what I did.
“If I was to get a medal the best thing I could do would be cut it in half and give Alain half of it.”
Baxter was presented with the bronze and returned home to a hero’s reception before six days later being informed of his test result.
He remains the only Briton to lose an Olympic medal for a doping offence, though sprinter CJ Ujah is in danger of joining him following his positive test in Tokyo last summer.
Baxter protested that his was an innocent mistake, caused by a nasal inhaler bought over-the-counter in the USA.
While they rejected his appeal the Court of Arbitration for Sport did accept he had not wilfully sought to improve his performance.
“It was such unfortunate circumstances,” added Ryding. “God help us that no one has to go through it again. It affected our sport. It affected Alain massively.”
The Scot now works with Ryding in a coaching capacity and although he is not in China the memory of his Olympic performance is fuelling the Rocket.
“Seeing him win the medal ignited something inside me,” said the 35-year-old, who considers him a “hero”.
“Passion, excitement, thrill, I don’t know what it was. But I still remember getting that feeling.”
The flame will be lit tonight with Team GB confident of bettering their highest medal tally of five achieved at the last two Games.
“Absolutely the talent is there to give us our best ever performance at a Winter Olympics,” said chef de mission Georgie Harland.
Britain suffered its first setback yesterday when curling mixed doubles favourites Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds lost 8-7 to Switzerland.
However they earlier beat Canada 6-4 and with two wins from three are still handily placed to reach Monday's medal matches.
