Woolstencroft, who was born missing both legs below the knees and one arm below the elbow, participated in a total of three Paralympics, winning 10 medals.

At Vancouver 2010 she set a record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Paralympic.

Her remarkable alpine racing CV also includes eight IPC World Cup championships, four IPC World Cup overall Crystal globes, 50-plus IPC wins and 19 Canadian titles.

She said: "I’m very happy.

"I am making the right decision.

"It’s a hard decision though as ski racing has been such a huge part of my life for so long.

"It's been a great 12 years with the team and I'll miss it very much - however I know I'll stay involved with the sport for the rest of my life."

Her performances during the Vancouver Paralympics, meant the 28-year-old tied wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc's Canadian record for most gold medals in a single Games.

Petitclerc won five at both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Summer Games.

She said: "I'm glad that I was born with this disability and I didn't get it later in life because I didn't have to adapt to anything.

"It's just how I am."

Earlier this week, Woolstencroft, who works as an engineer for BC Hydro, received the prestigious Freedom of the City award during a ceremony at North Vancouver City Hall.

She said: "It's a huge honour for the city to recognise me.

"The company I'm in is pretty humbling."


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