Canada’s Forest retires from Paralympic career

Three-time Paralympic champion Viviane Forest of Canada announced her retirement this past week. 03 Apr 2013

Viviane Forest (CAN) competes in the Women's Visually Impaired Giant Slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

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By IPC

"Viviane will no doubt be missed on the Para-Alpine Ski Team, yet we know the program is in good hands and is poised to continue its winning tradition at the upcoming 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi next year."

Canadian Paralympic alpine skier Viviane Forest announced her retirement from competition last Friday (29 March).

Forest was the first Canadian woman to win gold medals at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games.

The 33-year-old skier with a visual impairment from Edmonton is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist – once in alpine skiing and twice in goalball – and won five medals in total on the slopes at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games with guide Lindsay Debou.

She is also an active motivational speaker, having spoken to over 5,000 students from more than 120 schools in Quebec, Canada, sharing her life story and the challenges she has overcome as an elite athlete with a visual impairment.

"On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, a heartfelt thank you to Viviane for her contributions to Paralympic sport and congratulations on her successful career," said David Legg, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

"Viviane will no doubt be missed on the Para-Alpine Ski Team, yet we know the program is in good hands and is poised to continue its winning tradition at the upcoming 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi next year."