Jimmie Heuga, who died on 8 February, 2010, was an American Winter Olympian and an advocate for victims of multiple sclerosis, which he suffered from for 40 years.

He took bronze in the alpine skiing competition at the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria, making him one of the first American men to win a medal in the event.

But in later years he gained respect with his dignified battle with MS and his founding of the Jimmie Heuga Center in Edwards, Colorado. The centre aimed to improve quality of life for fellow sufferers.

Heuga, who also competed at the 1968 Winter Olympics, was diagnosed with MS in 1970, ending his skiing career at the age of 27.

Fellow US skier Billy Kidd said: “Obviously I admire him for what he did in the Olympics, but even more for what he did in his life after that. There are very few athletes who accomplish so much on the playing field, and then go on to accomplish even more after the competition is over. Jimmie was rare in that.”