Britain’s four-time Winter Olympic downhill skier Chemmy Alcott has marked the beginning of the end of her racing career in some style, with a win in the Super G at the British National Championships in France.
Alcott crossed the finish line in one minute 23.91 seconds, ahead of rivals Cara Brown and Honor Clissold.
“I just wanted to come through the finish line with a smile on my face” she told BBC Sport.
“The last few weeks have been tough with my leg – I am not in my best shape of the year – but I would have been disappointed if I didn’t win.
“It was really, really great to win and on what was a tough course.”
Alcott announced her intention to stop racing last week, saying the time was right, and her last competitive appearance would be at the British Alpine Championships in April.
Alcott’s career has seen her finish in the top 10 of a World Cup on five occasions, but she has struggled to improve since a career-threatening double fracture of her leg last summer, which was exacerbated by a further break on her return to training.
She finished 19th in the downhill at the Sochi Winter Olympics last month, and has already admitted it was a tough decision to call it a day, saying to the Independent.
“Now is my time. I feel it both physically and mentally. I think that fate has stepped in a little bit too – after breaking my leg in August I knew it all had to be about the Olympics.”
After some time off this summer, during which she will marry downhill skier Dougie Crawford, who won the men’s Super G title in Meribel, Alcott intends to continue skiing, and hopes she can use her skill and experience to help other skiers.
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