"I feel that I can no longer sustain the incredible amount of focus, dedication, commitment, energy and time it takes to be successful at a high level," Scott told a Calgary media conference.
"I just feel it's time to say goodbye."
The Vermilion, Alta., native debuted with the national cross-country ski team in 1994. She leaves the sport more than a decade later on the heels of a career campaign on the World Cup circuit.
Beckie Scott wipes away some tears during Wednesday's announcement. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)
Scott won four races and 10 medals during the 2005-06 season.
The 31-year-old Scott also teamed with fellow Albertan Sara Renner to capture an Olympic silver medal in the team sprint event at the Torino Games in February.
Scott rose to national prominence at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games after claiming a bronze medal in the women's pursuit race. It was the first podium finish for a North American female cross-country skier in Olympic history.
That bronze was later upgraded to silver and eventually to gold after the two Russian skiers who beat Scott had their medals stripped due to doping offences.
Larissa Lazutina and Olga Danilova both tested positive for banned substances, bumping Scott into second place and later first. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered the International Olympic Committee to award Scott the gold.
She received her gold medal at a ceremony in Vancouver more than two years after the race.
After the Salt Lake City Games, Scott emerged as a prominent advocate for drug-free sport. She remains a strong anti-doping voice as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency's Athlete Committee.
In retirement, Scott will still hold a prominent role in international amateur sport.
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport appointed Scott to its board of directors on Wednesday. She was also elected by her athletic peers to the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission this past February.
