"Brundage had a blacklist," Schranz told me here.

"He tried to do something every four years.

"He  could not afford to  kick out the French in Grenoble 1968, but he could afford to get rid of me  in 1972 because we were a small nation."

Schranz was already a three time Olympian, having won a giant slalom silver medal at Innsbruck 1964.

In early 1972, he  arrived in Japan and had completed two runs in practice.

It was three days before the start when he heard the bad news.

"It was an Austrian journalist who told me about the decision to expel me, not the IOC," said Schranz, who is now 75.

Brundage , known as "Slavery Avery" for his strict stance on amateur status, refused requests to meet Schranz .

"I tried to talk to him about the decision but he said, we do not talk to individuals," said Schranz.

Karl Schanz was welcomed back by 40,000 Austrian fans after the IOC kicked him out of the 1972 Winter Olympics for "professionalism" ©AFP/Getty Images

Veteran Austrian journalist Michael Kuhn was in Sapporo and contacted his desk back in Vienna.

"In those days there was no internet and we had no idea of the reaction back home in Austria. I called the office and suggested that they meet him at the airport and take him for lunch," said Kuhn.

Schranz never got his meal.

At the airport there was pandemonium.

Effigies of Brundage were burned as Schranz flew home to a hero's welcome.

An estimated 40,000 met him off the plane and even bigger crowds lined the streets of Vienna.

"They knew I was a likely winner so they felt they had to welcome me home," said Schranz.

Brundage stood down as IOC President in 1972 and Schranz found subsequent IOC Presidents more conciliatory.

"I talked to Lord Killanin, he was a nice man and he said this will never happen to any other athlete," said Schranz.

Those that have succeeded Killanin have also embraced Schranz.

"I did something for the whole group of Olympic athletes," he said.

"Now they are allowed to make money and they deserve to do so "

At the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Schranz's rehabilitation was complete when he was invited to be part of the colour party bearing the Olympic flag.

Then IOC President Jacques Rogge had already welcomed him back into the Olympic family.

"I had invited him to be present in Torino at the 2006 Olympic winter Games and we talked about what happened in Sapporo," said Schranz.

"You may say that the case is now closed"

"I am not emotional ,he said but it gave me the feeling that the IOC had recognised me." 

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