Jennifer Heil claims women’s moguls title

Jennifer Heil's bucket list has check marks next to dining with the Queen, hobnobbing with Bill Clinton and hearing the strains of O Canada with an Olympic gold medal dangling around her neck.

On Wednesday, on the verge of retiring from competitive moguls skiing and just in the nick of time, she ticked off the one title that has eluded her for more than a decade as one of Canada's most celebrated amateur athletes: world champion.

"It's hard to find the words," she said. "It just felt like such a great completion and closure to so many amazing experiences."

The 27-year-old native of Spruce Grove, Alta., took gold on a crisp and sunny day at Deer Valley Resort in Utah, where Canadians claimed four of six possible medals, including a silver for 2010 Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau.

For Heil, who took the title on a formidable course that has long been her favourite, the medal was a storybook finish to a long and accomplished career. In international moguls competition, she has been named rookie of the year and overall season champion five times. She's won numerous individual competitions, as well as Olympic gold in 2006 and silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games while under immense pressure to become a repeat champion.

Read full article: The Globe and Mail, February 2, 2011