He competed for 13 years on the national team, captured a World Cup downhill in Saalbach, Austria.

Former Olympian Carey Mullen recalled a Canadian alpine ski team race he and Podivinsky competed in as teenagers.

"I was really groggy and Dr. Pat McConkey comes into my room, opens the drapes and turns on the TV," Podivinsky recalled.

Podivinsky made it back for Lillehammer, Nagano (where he placed fifth) and finally Salt Lake City (24th), where he knew his career was done.

While competing, he studied for his chartered financial analyst exams and would spend time on trading floors during the off-season.

He is Director of global equity sales for Royal Bank of Canada and a father of four, all of whom are skiers.