
Mac Marcoux took to the slopes in 2016-17 with a new guide, Jack Leitch, following the retirement of his brother and guide Billy Joe. But the Canadian did not stop winning.
He claimed his second Paralympic gold in the men’s super-combined vision impaired in PyeongChang, South Korea. He followed that up with bronze in the giant slalom.
Marcoux enjoyed a dominant season throughout, also sealing the Crystal Globe after ending first in the overall World Cup standings.
The previous season was also highly successful, with four gold medals won at the 2017 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, across speed and technical events.
They were only challenged by Italian youngster Giacamo Bertagnolli and guide Fabrizio Casal, who left with the world title in the super-combined.
Marcoux also defended his downhill World Cup title with three wins.
He began skiing at the age of four and entered his first Para alpine skiing event at 13 after being talent spotted by Alpine Canada.
Just three years later, Marcoux took the slopes of the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort by storm, winning gold in the giant slalom with guide Robin Femy on his Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014. He also picked up two bronze medals in the downhill and super-G.
His excellent debut was even more impressive given that just weeks before Sochi, Marcoux's original guide and brother Billy Joe had to pull out of the Games with a back injury.
The pair were reunited at the 2015 World Championships on home soil in Panorama and won their first gold medal together. Sadly, they had to withdraw from the competition after Marcoux suffered an injury.
Their 2014-15 season was nonetheless crowned with an overall World Cup win. The brothers went on to finish third in the overall World Cup standings in 2015-16, as well as winning the super-G and downhill globes.
Biography
Impairment information
Further personal information
Sport specific information
General interest
In September 2020 he underwent surgery to treat a knee injury he first sustained in 2015. He had competed at the 2015 World Championships in Panorama, BC, Canada, despite having a torn meniscus and a minor medial collateral ligament [MCL] injury in his knee. (paralympic.org, 29 May 2021, 08 Aug 2015)
He missed the 2018/19 season while he was recovering from a back injury [ruptured disc]. (torontosun.com, 25 Jan 2020; sootoday.com, 21 Jan 2020)
He received the Male Para Alpine Skiing Athlete of the Year award at the 2016 and 2020 Canadian Ski Racing Awards. (cypressskiclub.com, 13 May 2020; paralympic.org, 18 Mar 2016)
He took part in the torch relay ahead of the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (paralympic.org, 08 Aug 2015)
In October 2014 he and his brother Billy Joe were inducted into the Sault Sainte Marie Sports Hall of Fame in Canada. (saultstar.com, 21 Oct 2014)
He received the Best [Paralympic Winter] Games Debut award at the 2014 Canadian Paralympic Sport Awards. (paralympic.org, 22 Sep 2014)
He featured in the short documentary film 'Blind Faith', which followed his participation at a freeskiing challenge in Whistler, BC, Canada. The challenge saw him become the first visually impaired athlete to complete three of the freeski lines at the Whistler Blackcomb resort. "I want to show people that even though it hasn't really been done before, if it's something you're passionate about, there's always a way to get it done." (paralympic.org, 29 May 2021)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2013-02-20 | 11 | |
Men's Super-G VI | Race 1 | 2013-02-21 | 8 | |
Men's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2013-02-24 | 9999 | |
Men's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2013-02-25 | 5 | |
Men's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2013-02-26 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Downhill Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-08 | 3 | |
Men's Super-G Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-09 | 3 | |
Men's Slalom Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-13 | 9999 | |
Men's Super Combined Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 9999 | |
Men's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-15 | 1 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-04 | 1 | |
Men's Super-G VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-05 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-25 | 1 | |
Men's Super-G VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-26 | 1 | |
Men's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-28 | 2 | |
Men's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-30 | 1 | |
Men's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2017-01-31 | 1 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Downhill Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-10 | 1 | |
Men's Super-G Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-11 | 9999 | |
Men's Super Combined Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-13 | 9999 | |
Men's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-14 | 3 | |
Men's Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-17 | 4 |