Macartney announces retirement

In a move that may well be a first, U.S. ski racer Scott Macartney announced his retirement on Facebook last Saturday.

Macartney posted:  “I will retire after this weekend’s racing in Kvitfjell, Norway. It has been an incredible ride- 12 years on the National team, 2 Olympics… podiums, ups and downs. It is time to move on though. No idea what my next move might be, but it will be fun figuring it out. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way!”

The 32-year-old Macartney scored two World Cup podium results in his time, a third-place result at Val Gardena in downhill Dec., 15, 2007 and a second in super G at Garmisch Jan. 29, 2006. It is the crashes, though, which brought him notoriety, the most spectacular coming on his 30th birthday at Kitzbuehel in 2008 when he lost balance at the final jump before the finish and smashed his head against the snow, sustaining a severe concussion and ending his season. The dramatic scene was used to open Audi’s recently released documentary film Truth in Motion.

Macartney has been a strong supporter of the World Cup Dreams foundation, founded by teammates Erik Schlopy and Brian Friedman which strives to provide financial resources and disability insurance to athletes at the national team level.