Cary Mullen

Cary Mullen electrified the World Cup circuit in the 1990s with a fearless yet controlled approach to ski racing at the highest level.

The three-time Olympian reached the peak of his career with a World Cup win in Aspen in 1994, narrowly beating Norwegian ski legend Atle Skaardal. That same season, he set a world record for the fastest recorded speed in a World Cup downhill — 151 kilometres per hour — at the famed Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, Austria.

Mullen competed in 75 World Cup races and represented Canada at three Olympic Games: 1992 in Albertville, France; 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway; and 1998 in Nagano, Japan, although injury prevented him from competing in 1998.

Early in the 1997 season, Mullen suffered a concussion in a crash at a World Cup downhill race in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Recovery was slow, with double vision and headaches lingering for months. He returned to competition in November but suffered another concussion in a fall during a super-G race at Aspen. A later crash in Val d’Isère, France, further hampered his recovery.

Mullen began skiing at age three and was racing by six with the Sunshine Ski Club in Alberta, where his dream of winning a World Cup title was born. At 15, he joined the Banff Alpine Racers, was named to the Alberta ski team at 17, and qualified for the national team at 19, in 1989. He remained on the Canadian team until December 1998.

In 1993 and 1994, he was named Canadian Male Skier of the Year and was nominated for the Johnny F. Bassett “Sports & Community” Award.

After retiring, Mullen dedicated time to supporting young athletes through the Cary Mullen Character Awards, recognising those who demonstrated courage, commitment, confidence and camaraderie. He also founded Champ Fest, a charity that unites sporting heroes, business leaders and volunteers to raise funds for Kids Cancer Care and the Alberta ski team, helping train the next generation of champions.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 

• 1993: 4th place, downhill, World Cup, Whistler; 7th, downhill, World Ski Championships, Morioka Shizukuishi, Japan; 7th downhill, World Cup, Sierra Nevada, Spain; 6th place, super-G, World Cup, Kvitfjell, Norway; 7th place, downhill, World Cup, Val Gardena, Italy
• 1994: 1st place, downhill, IS World Cup, Aspen, USA; 2nd place, downhill, World Cup, Saalbach, Austria; 2nd place, downhill, FIS World Cup, Aspen, USA; 8th place, downhill, World Cup, Wengen, Switzerland
• 1995: 2nd place, GS, Canadian Championships, Stoneham, Quebec;
• 1997: 3rd place, super G, Canadian Championships, Rossland, BC; 3rd place, super-G, Chilean National Championships, La Parva, Chile

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.