Olympic gold medalist Brady Leman announced Tuesday that he is retiring from ski cross after 15 years on the Canadian team. The skier will compete in his final races next weekend as part of the 2023 World Cup Finals, which will be held in Collingwood, Ontario.

Brady Leman joined the national team in 2008. He represented Canada at three Olympic Games and won gold at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He is also the first Canadian skier to win an Olympic medal in ski cross. “I’m grateful for everything ski racing has taught me,” he said in an Alpine Canada press release.

“Skicross has changed a lot since I started until today. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I never got tired of the sense of excitement that comes with competing and winning,” added the 36-year-old Albertan.

He wanted to pay tribute to the many people who have supported him including his family, friends, sponsors, teammates and coaches. “I hope you all know how much I appreciate your support. Finally, my biggest thanks go to my parents, who ignited the spark that fueled this incredible adventure. »

His longevity in the sport and ability to reinvent himself is reflected in his 15 years with the national team, his 142 starts, 31 podiums and five World Cup victories. He notably recorded three straight wins at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario.

Leman is eliminated with seven World Championship starts, in which he accumulated four Top-10 and won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Utah, USA.

“It’s never easy when an athlete retires,” said Canadian ski cross team head coach Stanley Hayer. “We ran together for a couple of years and have been in a coach-athlete relationship for the past eight years. The shared experiences on and off the slopes are unforgettable. His results speak volumes and it will be difficult to match his contribution to our sport. »

“The best thing is that Brady made his own decision to retire, which is rare in any sport,” he added.

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