Well, my original response that i never posted was i don't equate some beat writer's description of other skiers giving him a "hero's welcome" is the equivalent of saying he is a hero. It's a descriptive term for the event, and anyone reading it can tell from the context the writer is not saying "he's a hero."

(and one story says the winner was there cheering him on. If he don't got an issue with it, I don't)

But that was too much to write. But since you brought it up. I think it's a bit of misplaced outrage

As far as the second point, as we know in our world the best in any AG in any race in the world are those that choose to show up.