olympic gold medallist
& world champion
Ashleigh McIvor is a retired Canadian skicross Olympic Gold Medallist & World Champion from Whistler, BC. Ashleigh's victory in skicross' Olympic debut at home in the 2010 Winter Games secured her place in the history books and set a standard for those she inspired. Her teammates Marielle Thompson and Kelsey Serwa went on to win gold in the following two Olympic Games in Sochi and South Korea, respectively. Ashleigh has a very interesting story to tell about growing up immersed in a culture that revolves around pursuing passions and striving for excellence. It's a story of perseverance and a relentless belief in the step-by-step process -- focussing on manageable goals to flow naturally toward the desired outcome. Ashleigh's approach to success is unique and powerful, and with 8 years to reflect on which strategies set her apart from the competition -- strategies which her teammates mirrored and also found success through -- it is valuable knowledge to pass along to anyone chasing a dream, or looking to accomplish lofty goals.
Ashleigh's path to success began with her entry to ski racing at the age of 10 and progressed through the transition from alpine (where athletes race the clock) into the sport she was clearly destined to represent her country in: skicross (where racers go head-to-head over jumps, berms and all sorts of challenging terrain) at the relatively late age of 20. Ashleigh battled back from countless injuries to eventually become a dominant force on the World Cup circuit and at the X Games, before claiming her World Championship victory to qualify for the Olympic Games in her hometown. She has always been very dedicated to achieving her goals --putting the work in while focussing on the positive in every situation to keep the passion alive --and the charismatic champion has been able to carry her formula for success over to her career in broadcasting, modelling and public speaking.
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Most Olympians have stories of the moment they realized that they wanted to be an Olympian. Some have known which sport it would be in, some picked the sport after that goal became clear to them. Ashleigh is often asked by the media - "when was that moment, when you knew you wanted to be an Olympian?" Surprisingly, it was never the focus for Ashleigh. Though she was incredibly disciplined and committed to all of her sports, she also believes in following her heart every step of the way. Ashleigh was always very receptive - open to trying new things and becoming a very well-rounded individual. This enabled her to avoid getting hung up on overwhelming goals by sticking with what she loved and doing what made her feel good. She made the most of opportunities, and continually moved in the direction she wanted to be moving in, unknowingly preparing herself for that Olympic gold in a sport that didn't even exist when Ashleigh was a kid. The valuable lessons she's learned through her sport can be applied to all aspects of life, and the stories she has to share inspire listeners to re-evaluate their outlook on life, challenges, and victories of all sizes and forms.
McIvor retired from competitive skiing in the fall of 2012, after her second major knee injury and the tragic loss of her friend and teammate Nik Zoricic, who was killed racing in Switzerland. The time had come to focus on the opportunities that she had created for herself over the years of dedication and perseverance. She had previously studied Business/Marketing at the University of British Columbia. In 2012, she was named by Sportsnet Magazine as one of the 30 Most Beautiful Athletes on the Planet. McIvor is married to Jay DeMerit, US International soccer player and former captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Following her retirement announcement, Ashleigh is now busy with speaking engagements and appearances for sponsors, partners, and charitable organizations, as well as freeskiing and mountain biking for various videographers and photographers. She remains involved in the sport of skicross by working as an analyst for CBC and for Yahoo Sports, as well as in a mentorship role with her former teammates. Sochi 2014 Olympic Gold Medallist Marielle Thompson credits Ashleigh's words of encouragement and insight on a winning mentality for helping her keep at it in the Olympic lead-up.
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Often inspired by the chosen event theme, Ashleigh makes sure to tailor each presentation to her audience. She'll draw relevant parallels and share anecdotes that will resonate with the group with respect to their own business, including opportunities and threats they may be faced with which she has been through in one form or another throughout her life as an athlete. A highly regarded speaker, Ashleigh has had the honour of following or sharing the stage with superstar athletes like Trevor Linden at various conferences and events, Clara Hughes and Jon Montgomery on the topic of resilience, with MMA fighter Frank Mir on overcoming adversity and defying the odds, and with Denny Morrison just to name a few. Other concepts that Ashleigh has become an expert on include: leadership within a team environment, challenges with reorganization and management changes, and exercising creativity in order to remain positive throughout any situation.
Olympic Champion
World Champion
X Games Medallist
11 World Cup Medals
ESPY Nominee
BC Sport Hall of Fame Inductee
Sportsnet Magazine's 30 Most Beautiful Athletes
Hello Canada's 50 Most Beautiful People
Bleacher Report's 100 Most Beautiful Olympians Ever
Whistler's Favorite Athlete
World Champion
X Games Medallist
11 World Cup Medals
ESPY Nominee
BC Sport Hall of Fame Inductee
Sportsnet Magazine's 30 Most Beautiful Athletes
Hello Canada's 50 Most Beautiful People
Bleacher Report's 100 Most Beautiful Olympians Ever
Whistler's Favorite Athlete
