2006 Winter Olympian and 2005 Kangaroo Hoppet winner Clare-Louise Brumley has announced her retirement from the national cross country ski team and competitive racing. Please see open letter from Clare-Louise below:

After much thought I have decided to retire from competitive XC skiing. What I love in the sport will endure beyond competition and I look forward to many years of skiing in Australia (if our planet doesn't get too hot!)

Fulfilling the Olympic dream was something I had not considered five years ago when I made a comeback to the sport after a seven year hiatus. In 2002 I was in Canada for fun, traveling with James as he trained for the sport. While there the Salt Lake City Olympics were on. Watching the girls race inspired me and in a brief moment one afternoon I decided I wanted to race again. The remainder of the Silver Star trip became a training camp. James and I were systematic and steadfast in our approach from that point on, focusing simply on the realistic goal at hand. It was only after World Championships in 2005 that Olympics 2006 became the goal. I have never focused so many elements of my life and all my energy into something as much as I did for those Olympic Games. Competing for Australia at the Olympics and achieving a result reflective of my form was so immensely satisfying.

I had the right momentum going for the sport, ran it to it's completion for my particular circumstances and now it's time to let it go. James and I have moved to Anglesea on Victoria's surf coast where I am writing my PhD thesis.

I would like to extend a warm thank you to the skiing community, Peter Cunningham and SAXC committee, Finn Marsland, and to national team sponsors including: Falls Creek resort, Atomic skis, Salomon, Toko, SSA and supporters of the XC-2010 program. Thanks also to the Victorian Institute of Sport for their support. A very sincere thank you to my personal sponsors - University Ski Club (USC), Banyule Leisure Centre and EMC. USC has provided such a supportive environment and their financial support was invaluable in helping me get overseas. Banyule Leisure Centre in Ivanhoe has provided years of gym membership which has been essential to my training. And finally, thanks to Doug Evans at EMC in Balwyn for all the support with waxes and equipment, particularly at a stage when I was re-establishing myself and good gear was hard to come by.

On a personal level, I want to thank James Rickard for his coaching sense and partnership in the sport, and my family's support throughout the journey. Special thanks to my Dad, John Brumley for his help in Europe during the 2005 World Championships and in the 2006 Olympic selection World Cup races, where in true parental form all the cheering and anticipation probably sent his heart rate higher than mine was whilst racing the climbs in Val di Fiemme and Oberstdorf.

I wish the team well over the next 2 ½ years in preparation for Vancouver 2010.

Clare-Louise Brumley
10 October 2007
Anglesea, Victoria