Ashleigh McIvor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashleigh McIvor |
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McIvor at the 2010 Winter Olympics
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Born | 15 September 1983 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ashleigh McIvor DeMerit (born September 15, 1983) is a retired Canadian freestyle skier from Whistler, British Columbia. She was a member of Canada's national ski cross team. Ski cross is an exciting race where multiple skiers race down a course with jumps and turns at the same time.
McIvor made history by winning the very first Olympic gold medal for women's ski cross. This happened at the 2010 Winter Olympics in her home country. She was also a world champion in the sport and won a silver medal at the Winter X Games.
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Skiing Career
Ashleigh McIvor started competing in ski cross in 2003. She quickly became a top skier in North America. Even as one of the youngest racers on the World Cup circuit, she earned a podium finish in her very first race. A podium finish means placing in the top three.
Her skill and popularity led to opportunities outside of skiing. She worked with fashion photographers and modeled for major sportswear brands.
Major Achievements
McIvor's first huge victory came in 2009 when she won the World Championship in Inawashiro, Japan. She also competed in four Winter X-Games, earning a silver medal in 2010.
Over her career, she stood on the podium 11 times in FIS World Cup races. One of these was a silver medal win in 2009 at Cypress Mountain, the same place where the Olympics would be held the next year. She ranked third overall in the 2008-2009 World Cup season and second in the 2009–2010 season.
2010 Winter Olympics
Before the Olympics, McIvor competed in the 2010 Winter X Games. She and her Canadian teammate Kelsey Serwa finished second and third, showing they were ready for the world stage. This was McIvor's first-ever X Games medal.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, ski cross was a new medal event. McIvor qualified for the final race with the second-fastest time. In the final, she took an early lead and held it, winning the gold medal for Canada. She became the first woman ever to win an Olympic gold in ski cross.
Injury and Retirement
The season after her Olympic win, McIvor had a serious knee injury. She hurt her ACL, a key part of the knee, during a practice run at the Winter X Games. This injury ended her season.
Because of her injuries, McIvor decided to retire from competitive skiing in 2012. She said, "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."
Life After Skiing
Ashleigh graduated from Whistler Secondary School in 2001. She later studied Business and Marketing at the University of British Columbia.
In 2013, McIvor married Jay DeMerit, a former professional soccer player and captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They have a son named Oakes.
Since retiring, McIvor has stayed busy. She gives speeches for sponsors and charities. She also continues to ski for fun in films and for photographers. She has also worked as a TV analyst for ski cross events, sharing her expert knowledge of the sport.
See also
In Spanish: Ashleigh McIvor para niños
