Ski: retirement time has come for Marie-Michèle Gagnon

UPDATE DAY

After three Olympic Games, eight world championship appearances and 272 World Cup starts, skier Marie-Michèle Gagnon is retiring.

After descending the Courchevel Méribel world championship on Friday morning, Gagnon confirmed the news during a virtual meeting with Canadian media. She concluded her career with two World Cup victories for a total of five podiums.

Gagnon obtained her first victory on January 12, 2014 during the super combined in Altenmark in Austria. Two years later, she climbed to the top step of the podium in the Soldeu-El Tarter alpine combined.

Strengthened by her career-best Olympic result at the Beijing Games last February when she had signed an 8th place in the downhill, the pride of Lac-Etchemin has had a more difficult season this year.

A violent fall in Cortina d'Ampezzo last January affected his confidence. After a 10th place in the alpine combined on Monday, she could only do a 26th position on Wednesday in the super-G. She confirmed after the race that she lacked the confidence to attack the course.

Gagnon missed the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang with two major injuries. During a World Cup training run in Lake Louise in December 2017, she tore her right anterior cruciate and dislocated her left shoulder.

She began her transition from technician to speed trials. Gagnon won his only sprint medal at the super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 30, 2021, which was his last career podium.