BILLY’S BIG AIR OF THE DOG

Flag waving is the perfect hangover cure for our bronze hero Morgan

SNOWBOARDER Billy Morgan shook off a hangover of Olympic proportions to play a starring role in Pyeongchang’s closing ceremony.

After winning big-air bronze, the 28-year-old (below) admitted to hitting the town hard – and not remembering that mates had taken him back to the Olympic Village on a luggage trolley.

Indeed, when team bosses called him in for a meeting, to reveal he would carry the British flag, he thought he was in trouble after posting a hangover picture on Instagram.

“We went out for a party and everyone came, we had a great time,” said Morgan, after being named the first snowboarder chosen for the honour. “I was actually in bed pretty early. I sent it too hard, too early, and peaked out. I don’t remember the trolley, but apparently it happened. “This morning, I got called into the room and I thought I was in trouble, but they gave me the honour of being the Olympic flag bearer. It’s crazy.” Morgan admitted the medal was extra special to his father, who suffered an aneurysm earlier this year. “My dad, grandad and brother were all in the Navy, but I’m the odd one out,” Morgan said. “I didn’t really get on well with academic stuff, but I hope we’ve inspired everyone to do their sports.

“It all comes down to facilities, and we need more, if we want to push the sport further.

“Freestyle academies have been popping up all over the world, and it would be amazing if we had something like that.”

Team GB were set a target of five medals at these Games, more than they’d previously won.

Team bosses were quick to declare mission accomplished, although they will wonder what might have been, had Elise Christie stood up and top medal hope Katie Ormerod not got crocked before the flame was even lit.