▁a ▁Canadian ▁ath lete , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁Vel ma ▁Spring st ead ▁Tro phy ▁for ▁best ▁Canadian ▁female ▁ath lete . ▁ ▁She ▁is ▁an ▁honor ary ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Military ▁College ▁of ▁Canada , ▁student ▁# ▁S 1 2 0 .... ▁ ▁Post - O lymp ic ▁career ▁She ▁briefly ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁sport ▁to ▁give ▁birth ▁to ▁her ▁daughter ▁( the ▁father ▁was ▁another ▁bi ath lete , ▁and ▁soldier , ▁Jean ▁Pa quet ). ▁Her ▁com eb ack ▁was ▁not ▁very ▁successful , ▁being ▁ham per ed ▁by ▁inj uries . ▁After ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁Winter ▁Olympics , ▁B éd ard ▁retired ▁from ▁bi ath lon . ▁She ▁later ▁announced ▁an ▁attempt ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Olympic ▁team ▁as ▁a ▁speed ▁sk ater , ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁purs ue ▁this ▁goal ▁for ▁long . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁B éd ard ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁eight ▁persons ▁( and ▁the ▁only ▁woman ) ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Bi ath lon ▁Union ' s ▁( I BU ) ▁executive ▁board , ▁where ▁she ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁I BU ' s ▁vice - pres ident ▁responsible ▁for ▁special ▁issues . ▁ ▁On ▁February ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁in ▁the ▁context ▁of ▁the ▁spons or ship ▁sc andal ▁that ▁came ▁to ▁light ▁soon ▁after ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Jean ▁Chr ét ien ▁left ▁office , ▁B éd ard ▁assert ed ▁that ▁she ▁had ▁been ▁forced ▁to ▁res ign ▁from ▁her ▁market ing