Gold Medalist McIvor Retires from Ski Racing
Twenty-nine year old Ashleigh McIvor, one of Canada's most popular sportswomen and a gold medal winner in the Vancouver winter Olympics for ski cross racing, has announced her retirement from the sport.
McIvor became an overnight darling of the crowd when she was the first woman to capture an Olympic gold medal in the sport for Canada.
In her career, she has graced eleven World Cup podiums and her aim was to take part in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia.
Unfortunately, however, McIvor tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee while doing a training run at the X Games last January. She underwent surgery and was told that she could slowly return to the sport, which did this summer.
However, despite her best intentions, McIvor decided that she was not physically able to return to her former shape and announced her retirement this week.
Difficult Decision for McIvor
The decision to retire wasn't an easy one to make for the talented McIvor.
"I've gone back and forth in my mind, wondering if I am making the right decision to retire," she said. "But I've already done more in the sport than I ever imagined would be possible, and there's something to be said for going out on top, as the reigning Olympic champion."
While McIvor said that she felt she was still capable of racing, she said that she had mulled the question of retirement before, and the knee injury was the factor which made the decision for her.
"I've decided that it's more important to me to be able to ski recreationally, now and for the rest of my life," she said. "I have career opportunities that are time sensitive and a great life outside of racing."
McIvor recently got engaged to Jay DeMerit, captain for the Vancouver Whitecaps. She has also modeled for top fashion photographers and featured in major advertising campaigns.
Ski Cross Racing Popular in Canada
Ashleigh McIvor has been a major contributor to the popularity of ski cross racing in Canada.
As McIvor retires from ski racing, the second best ski cross racer in the world, Canadian Brady Leman said: "Ashleigh's definitely given the sport of ski cross a face in Canada. Her win in Vancouver was huge for our sport."
"It put a big exclamation point on ski cross being the newest alpine ski sport and something to watch," he said.
