Olympian, World Cup Champion Jeremy Bloom Announces His Retirement From Competitive Skiing

Nov. 11, 2009 - PRLog -- Jeremy Bloom, one of the most decorated freestyle skiers in United States history and a two sport athlete who also played in the National Football League, today announced his official retirement from competitive skiing.  Bloom was preparing to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, but has decided to forgo training and competition to concentrate on his broadcasting, business and philanthropy endeavors fulltime.

“I am eternally grateful to my family, friends, coaches and teammates for the success that I have obtained in my sports career,” Bloom said.  “Without this group of people, whose wings I have stood on, I would never have enjoyed the athletic privileges and successes that I dreamed of as a young boy.  The passion that I once had for sports has naturally transitioned into my new ventures.  I feel like I’m twelve years old again, dreaming and climbing new mountains.  And, I hope that many will join me in these pursuits.”

Despite competing in only four full seasons at the World Cup level, Bloom became one of the most decorated freestyle skiers in U.S. history racking up 26 World Cup podiums, 11 World Cup wins, two overall World Cup titles, and a World Championship gold medal.  A two time Olympian (2002 & 2006) he holds the World Record for most consecutive World Cup wins in a single season with six (2005).  He was also a standout wide receiver and punt returner for the University of Colorado football team, playing only two seasons before the NCAA ruled him ineligible to compete on the collegiate level because of endorsement contracts he had signed as a professional skier.   In 2006, following the Torino Olympics, Bloom was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, and played four seasons with Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring due to injury.

Bloom will now devote all his efforts on the next stage of his life, focusing the majority of his time to his foundation that enriches the lives of low-income seniors.  “My work with the Wish of a Lifetime Foundation over the past year and a half has completely changed my perspective on my life.  For so many years, I have been focused on personal accomplishments.  My journey into granting wishes to low-income aging adults has been as gratifying as anything I have ever accomplished.  I am proud of my foundations work and I am thrilled that I will be able to spend more time working to expand our efforts in creating a cultural shift in the way we all look at aging in this country.”  

Bloom also plans to increase his broadcasting assignments with ESPN (he has done color commentary on college football for ESPN360 this fall) and on analyst duties for skiing and winter sports-related events.  

Wish of a Lifetime (JBWL) was founded in early 2008 and is a Colorado-based 501 (C) (3) foundation, which enriches the lives of low-income aging adults.  Bloom started the organization in honor of his grandmother, Donna Wheeler, who lives in Keystone, Colorado and still works fulltime at the age of 84. The foundation contributes to an American cultural change that honors and celebrates the lives of aging Americans.  For the rest of the story visit www.WishOfaLifetime.org

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