Finlay Mickel's dreams of becoming Great Britain's first Olympic alpine medallist were shattered after a disappointing downhill run at Sestriere Borgatta.

Mickel learned the harsh reality of his sport's biggest competition as he finished 25th, 2.68 seconds behind runaway winner Antoine Deneriaz of France.

From a start gate of two, the Scot never fully recovered from a poor start, and his hopes of exceeding Martin Bell's eighth place finish in 1988 were over.

Mickel said: ''I was disappointed not to have my best day of the season here on the biggest day of the season.

''My mistake was made in qualifying. Normally I would build confidence every day up to a race but I had a shocker that set me back.

''The course was really challenging at the top and I have not been able to nail those top three gates all week. You've got to be able to change your game for the big courses and I could not do it today.''

Mickel had harboured realistic hopes of a top-ten finish, having secured tenth place in a World Cup race last month following 11th at last year's World Championships.

Now he will seek to gain inspiration from the surprise performance of Deneriaz, who blitzed out of his start gate of 30 to knock World Cup leader Michael Walchhofer into second place.

Mickel believes he has strong comparisons with the way Deneriaz fought back from injury and technical problems to be crowned Olympic downhill champion.

Mickel added: ''Antoine has improved after having technical issues. He has conquered them and gone out and absolutely killed this course.

''I have been racing with him for many years and beaten him plenty of times and seeing him up there is an inspiration for me.''

Mickel will now turn his attention to next Saturday's super-giant slalom, as will his British team-mate Roger Cruickshank, who finished 37th of the 55 competitors.

Cruickshank, who trailed winner Deneriaz by 5.85 seconds, said he was simply pleased to be at the Games after suffering an horrendous knee injury early last year.

Cruickshank said: ''I definitely played it too safe, but I am the happiest man here after what I've been through and I realised a lifetime ambition today.''

Deneriaz claimed he never lost the belief that he would be crowned Olympic champion after recovering from a torn knee ligament to blaze to glory.

Deneriaz had to be helicoptered off the mountain last January after an appalling crash during a training run at Chamonix, which left his skiing future in doubt.

But the Frenchman stormed back to destroy his leading rivals and claim the gold medal with a massive 0.72-second advantage over Austrian Michael Walchhofer, with Swiss Bruno Kernen third.

Deneriaz said: ''When I was carried by helicopter I tried not to be too dramatic. I thought the Olympics are only every four years and I am still going to make it.

''When I was at the start I said to myself, 'do it, you have to attack.' When I arrived at the finish line and saw my time I thought it was incredible.''

Racing from a start gate of 30 and without a World Cup downhill win for over two years, few gave Deneriaz a chance of gold, despite finishing fastest in the final training run on Saturday.

But while fancied Americans Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves failed to beat the early time set by Walchhofer, Deneriaz was over half a second up by the halfway stage.

World Cup leader Walchhofer said: ''I was disappointed but then I understood that Deneriaz had a dream run. After two minutes I was extremely happy because it was a hugely difficult race.''

Deneriaz's late surge denied Norwegian veteran Kjetil Andre Aamodt a record eighth Olympic medal as he dropped to fourth with Miller having to be content with fifth.

Michelle Kwan's search for an elusive figure skating gold medal ended when she was forced to pull out of the competition.

The five-times world champion suffered the injury in training on Saturday and was forced out after tests by the team doctor.

Kwan claimed a silver medal in Nagano in 1998 and bronze in Salt Lake City four years later. She will be replaced by Emily Hughes, the younger sister of 2002 gold medallist Sarah Hughes.

Snowboarder Daniel Wakeham failed to build on his recent fifth place in the World Cup by trailing in 20th and missing qualification for the final of the men's half-pipe.

Luger Mark Hatton had a lucky escape after a making a huge mistake during his third run at Cesana Pariol.

Hatton came off his sled at curve six of the Olympic track but held on and managed to clamber back aboard two curves later and finish.

Hatton, who had started the second day of competition in 25th place, dropped to 36th and last with one run remaining