Coates congratulates Camplin

Winter Olympic Gold medallist Alisa Camplin announced her retirement from international aerial skiing last week.

AOC president John Coates paid tribute to the 2002 Winter Olympic Gold medallist in a personal letter written to congratulate her on a stellar career and to thank her for the fantastic contribution she made to the Australian Olympic movement.

“On the occasion of your retirement I'd like to once more thank you for your outstanding contribution to the Olympic Movement in this country, both on and off the slopes,” said Coates.

“We are very proud of you and all you have achieved.”

Camplin has made the decision to retire immediately and has denied herself the opportunity to compete on her home slopes at Mt Buller in September in a World Cup event. It was at Buller where she announced herself to the world when she made her debut in the sport as a 19 year-old.

Now 31, Camplin added a bronze medal to her Gold from Salt Lake at this year’s Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Her third placing in Turin earlier this year was a surprise after having to undergo a full knee reconstruction just four months before the Winter Olympics.

“Turin was a fairytale ending, so it seems the perfect place to finish," she told New Idea magazine.

“It's quite sad because I could have easily continued for another four years, but I've achieved everything I've ever wanted from the sport.

“Now I'm looking forward to exciting things in the future, like having a family and starting a new career.”

She leaves the international stage having won every major trophy at least once, including the 2003 World Championships and back-to-back overall World Cup titles in 2003-04.

Overall she tasted victory 10 times on the World Cup circuit, was on the podium 19 times at World Cup events and placed in the top ten 33 times during her international career.

Following her retirement Camplin is looking to establish a ski travel business and pursue media interests.