Kneller, 20, graduated from the school in 2007 and is now one of Australia's top-ranking Olympians. ``It was my best performance to date and it was at the Olympic Games.

``It doesn't get much better than that,'' Kneller posted on his blog, scottkneller.com. ``It has been the most incredible three weeks of my life, from walking in the opening ceremony to then deliver the performance of a lifetime. I couldn't be more proud to be an Australian Olympian.

``The best part was having my family there watching. It's the first time they have seen me race so it was really special.''

Kneller told the Advertiser he greatly appreciated the support Hurlstone had given him as a student.

``Hurlstone was an unbelievable high school to attend,'' he said. ``The school provided so much support for me to excel in both my studies and sport.''

Hurlstone principal John Norris said the school had followed every minute of Kneller's Olympic journey.

``I think some people may have even stayed away on the day to see him race,'' he said. ``He just missed out. I sent him a text message saying I'd see him in Russia in four years' time.

``The school is delighted to have somebody climb so high in the Winter Olympic program, especially remembering he came into it with a fractured collarbone earlier this year and a concussion at the same time.

``We're really looking forward to the next Winter Olympics.''

Mr Norris said Kneller was an outstanding student in his six years at the school. ``He was a dignified, absolutely polite, exceedingly well-organised young man and basically mature beyond his years.

``Scott was the captain of our ski team for four years and I think he attracted a lot of students to skiing because he was such a gentle, easy-going person.''

Kneller was a surprise achiever at the Olympics and had not been expected to trouble the top racers until he qualified in 12th place.

In the final Michael Schmid, of Switzerland, took the gold, Austria's Andreas Matt took the silver and Norwegian Audun Groenvold won bronze.