Ashleigh McIvor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashleigh McIvor
McIvor at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Country	Canada
Born	(1983-09-15) 15 September 1983 (age 41) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Ski club	Whistler Mountain SC
World Cup career
Seasons	5 – (2005, 2008–2011)
Individual wins	1
Indiv. podiums	11
Indiv. starts	28
Overall titles	0 – (7th in 2010)
Discipline titles	0
Medal record Women's freestyle skiing Representing  Canada Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver Ski cross World Championships Gold 2009 Inawashiro Ski cross X Games Silver 2010 Aspen Ski cross

Ashleigh McIvor DeMerit, born on September 15, 1983, is a Canadian retired freestyle skier. She lives in Whistler, British Columbia. Ashleigh was a key member of Canada's national ski cross team. She made history by winning the first-ever gold medal in women's ski cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She is also a former world champion in ski cross and earned a silver medal at the Winter X Games.

Ashleigh McIvor's Skiing Journey

Early Days and World Cup Success

Ashleigh McIvor started ski cross when she was young. She quickly became very good on the North American pro tour. Even as one of the youngest athletes, she finished on the podium in her very first World Cup race. Ashleigh began competing in 2003.

Because she was so popular, Ashleigh also worked with fashion photographers. She modeled on runways and got big sponsorships from sportswear companies.

McIvor on the World Cup stop in Les Contamines

Winning a World Championship

Ashleigh won her first World Championship in 2009. This big win happened in Inawashiro, Japan. She also competed in four Winter X-Games. Her best result there was a silver medal in 2010.

She achieved eleven podium finishes in the FIS World Cup series. This included a silver medal at Cypress Mountain in 2009. This was the same place where the Vancouver Olympic Games were held. Ashleigh finished third overall in the 2008-09 FIS World Cup season. She then placed second overall in the 2009–2010 season.

Olympic Gold Medal Win

Before the Winter Olympics, Ashleigh competed at the 2010 Winter X Games. This was her final practice event. There, she and fellow Canadian Kelsey Serwa finished second and third. Ashleigh's silver medal was her first X Games medal ever.

Ashleigh was part of Canada's freestyle skiing team at the Vancouver Olympics. Ski cross was a new medal event at these Games. Ashleigh McIvor qualified for the final race with the second-fastest time. In the finals, she started very quickly and won the race. She finished with a good distance between herself and Hedda Berntsen. With this victory, Ashleigh won the first Olympic gold medal for women's ski cross.

Retirement from Skiing

During the next season, Ashleigh had a serious knee injury. She tore her ACL for the second time. This happened during a practice run at the Winter X Games. Because of her injuries, Ashleigh decided to retire from competitive skiing in late 2012. She said she had already achieved more than she ever thought possible. She felt it was good to retire as the reigning Olympic champion.

Ashleigh McIvor's Life After Skiing

Education and Family Life

Ashleigh graduated from Whistler Secondary School in 2001. She later studied Business and Marketing at the University of British Columbia. In 2012, Sportsnet Magazine named her one of the 30 Most Beautiful Athletes on the Planet.

Ashleigh married Jay DeMerit in 2013. Jay was the former captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team. Ashleigh and Jay have a son together named Oakes.

Current Activities

After retiring from competitive ski cross in November 2012, Ashleigh has focused on new activities. She gives speeches and makes appearances for her sponsors and partners. She also works with charitable organizations. Ashleigh continues to enjoy freeskiing for various filmmakers and photographers. She stays involved in ski cross by working as an analyst for CBC and other broadcasters.

See also

In Spanish: Ashleigh McIvor para niños