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The Irish athletes in frame to make the Winter Games

Updated / Tuesday, 7 Dec 2021 15:31
Ireland could be sending their biggest ever team to a Winter Games
Ireland could be sending their biggest ever team to a Winter Games

We're less than 60 days away for the 2022 Winter Olympics with controversies dominating the build-up.

All competing athletes must be fully vaccinated to participate in the Beijing Games but Covid-19 is not the only major talking point as we close in on the 4 February opening ceremony.

On Monday the USA announced a diplomatic boycott citing human rights abuses, though they've insisted US athletes will not be stopped from competing.

There also remains concern for the welfare of tennis player Peng Shuai after she made an allegation of sexual assault against a senior Chinese official on social media last month that was swiftly removed.

Meanwhile, Irish athletes are in a period of intense competition around the world competing for the Olympic spots on offer. Their focus is solely on getting to the biggest stage of all, with athletes from ten sports in with a chance of achieving qualification places in their events for the country.

Ireland first sent a team to a Winter Olympics in 1992, Albertville, and since then has competed in seven Games, with a total of 32 Winter Olympians in the 20 years of competition.

We take a look at who's in the running to make what could be the largest team Ireland has ever sent to a Games.

ALPINE SKIING

Ireland could qualify one female spot and two male spots in the Alpine Skiing events. For the women's place, 2018 Olympian Tess Arbez, whose Irish roots are in Co Carlow, is the frontrunner, with USA-based athletes Emma Ryan and Elle Murphy also scrapping to qualify.

In the men’s event England-born Jack Gower is the one to watch. He recently declared for Ireland, through his late grandmother who was born in Dublin and raised in Skibbereen, the West Cork town renowned for its remarkable rowers. He is the nephew of former England cricketer Davd Gower.

Also seeking qualification is Dubliner Cormac Comerford, Australia-based Alec Scott and Winter Youth Olympian Matt Ryan, brother of Emma.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Pyeongchang Winter Olympian Thomas Maloney Westgaard has already accumulated enough qualification points for Beijing, and will compete in the 15km event.

Westgaard’s mother hails from Galway and met his Norwegian father whilst on holiday, before moving to a small fishing island in Norway, where the family was raised.

This event is one of the oldest winter sports, and is an endurance sport, often compared to running on ice.

FREESTYLE SKIING

Brendan Newby [pictured above], better known as 'Bubba', competed for Ireland at the Pyeongchang Games in this event. Bubba is on the cusp of achieving qualification once again. The Cork-born athlete is based in the USA, where he competes in the half-pipe event.

LUGE

The entire Irish Luge Federation is founded on the drive and ambition of Elsa Desmond, whose paternal grandparents are from Cavan and Cork.

Based in the UK, Desmond recently qualified as a doctor. The Luge is an event where the athlete lies on their back on a sled while sliding down a track. It's the fastest sport at the Games with competitors reaching speeds of up to 145kmph. Not for the faint-hearted...

SHORT-TRACK RACING

For the first time Ireland has an ice skater in contention for one of the spots in the men's 1500m Short Track Racing event.

Liam O’Brien is an Australia-based skater, who alongside the McAnuff brothers Ryan and Sean, has been competing for qualification points during the Olympic Qualification series which ended last month.

With 36 athletes set to compete in Beijing, O’Brien is currently ranked between 34-37 on the qualification status, and has qualification within his grasp, pending the publication of the final qualification list on 13 December.

SKELETON

Skeleton, where athletes slide head first down a track, is the event in which Ireland has had its most success at the Winter Olympics.

In 2002 at Salt Lake City, Clifton Wrottesley finished fourth, just outside the medals. For Beijing 2022, Dubliner Brendan Doyle is currently competing in events in the USA seeking qualification. Over the coming weeks his results in races in the USA and in Germany will determine if he's made it.

Based in Ireland for much of the year, Doyle needs results in eight competitions across his race calendar for November and December, where he is targeting 14 competitions. He has reached his target in three of the five events he's raced in so far.

SNOWBOARD

The most experienced Olympian on the team list is Seamus O’Connor, who has competed in the past two Games in the half-pipe. The US-based snowboarder’s paternal grandparents are from Drogheda and Dublin.

Snowboarding since he was five, O’Connor turned professional aged 13. He has achieved the qualification target for Beijing and is set to become the first Irish athlete to compete at three Winter Games.

Maggie Rose Carrigan is an Alpine Snowboarder and is seeking qualification in the Parallel Giant Slalom. The American was diagnosed with scoliosis as a child and, following surgery at 11 years of age, she has managed to progress to a level where she's competing with the best in the world.

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