Britain’s four-time Olympic alpine skier Chemmy Alcott has announced she will retire from racing after the 2014 British championships.
The 31-year-old recorded five top-10 World Cup finishes and is the only Briton to have won a World Cup giant slalom run.
Last month, she finished in 19th place in the women’s downhill at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Alcott, whose career was blighted by injury, told the BBC: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from ski racing, a sport that defines me.”
She added: “I am not retiring from skiing and believe that I still have much to offer the sport.
“It is my intention to take some time off over the summer, enjoy my forthcoming wedding to Dougie (Crawford) and return next season to the alpine racing world to use my wealth of experience to help other athletes.”
Alcott has been Britain’s most successful alpine skier and was the first and only Briton to win a run in a World Cup race in the giant slalom at Soelden in Sweden in 2008.
She was dubbed the ‘bionic woman’ after a double fracture in late 2010 left her needing a metal plate inserted into her right leg, while a further break hampered her comeback bid in August 2013.
Alcott added: “Looking back at my career I am incredibly proud that I have had the guts and mental strength to overcome the odds and compete for my country.
“I look forward to mentoring others and to continuing my charity and television work, particularly in the challenging field of adventure — my future is bright’.”
The British Alpine Championships take place between March 29 and April 7 in Meribel, France.