Alcott flying the nest to leave British crisis behind her

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

CHEMMY Alcott is set to go it alone in a bid to boost her chances of winning a medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

FLYING THE NEST: Chemmy Alcott will be moving abroad to train with a foreign team ahead of Sochi 2014 (Getty Images)

The 27-year-old cut a frustrated figure at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver after SnowsportGB went into administration a week before the Games began amid revelations she was owed £20,000 by the defunct organisation.

That has left Alcott, Britain's number one alpine skier, with a financial black hole to fill, having departed  Vancouver 2010 - where she equaled her best ever Olympic finish of 11th - penniless.

The British Olympic Association manfully stepped into support the 14 British snowsport athletes in Vancouver but that was just a short-term fix - prompting Alcott to rethink her plans.  

She has yet to confirm where she will be based but believes a move away, where she can spend time with the world's best, will suit her down to the ground ahead of an assault on the podium in Russia.

"I'm not sure where I am going to be next season yet but I won't be training with the British team," said Alcott.

"I'll still race for Britain but I'll train alongside say the Canadians and use their facilities and everything but I haven't decided yet which country. 

"But I am trying to confirm the best programme over the next four years because I have committed to another Olympics. 

"Going to another Olympics was kind of always in my plan, I'll be 31 years old which is kind of the peak for a skier. 

"It's been quite tough recently because I'm trying to secure sponsors, it's a really different environment out there especially with what happened with our federation.

"I'll get on whatever is the best programme for me because there are certain countries that have good ski teams but need a giant slalom skier to help their girls.

"And that's what I can offer because I have got the speed but I've also got the experience in the technical discipline so I'm kind of looking at that and seeing which is the best programme. It's got to be of benefit to both parties."