Cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgaard will make some Irish sporting history after being named in Ireland's four-athlete team for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, which begin on Friday week.
The line-up was confirmed on Thursday, with Maloney Westgaard returning for his third Games. The Norwegian-born 30-year-old will become only the second man to compete in three Winter Games for Ireland, emulating snowboarder Seamus O'Connor.
Maloney Westgaard, born on the small island of Leka to a Galway mother and Norwegian father, goes in the 10km+10km skiathlon and the 50km classic.
Ireland's other three representatives are all first-timers.
Seventeen-year-old Colorado native Anabelle Zurbay will compete in slalom and giant slalom events. Zurbay is the youngest Irish athlete to ever compete in alpine skiing at an Olympics. Her maternal grandmother comes from Rosemount, just outside Moate in Co Westmeath.
Dubliner Cormac Comerford will represent his country in the downhill, giant slalom run and Super G disciplines. Comerford first honed his skills at the Kilternan dry slopes in Co Wicklow. Working as a mechanical engineer in the off-season, Comerford spent most of the winter training and competing across Europe.
Ben Lynch competes in the freestyle skiing halfpipe event. The Dublin-born skier moved to Vancouver when he was three. Despite coming from a family of excellent rowers, Lynch went all in on skiing, excelling in the expressive element of freestyle disciplines.
The athletes gathered in Bolzano this week for final preparations ahead of the Games, which run from 6 to 22 February.
"This team reflects the progress of Irish winter sport and the exceptional standards required to compete at Olympic level," said Team Ireland Chef de Mission Nancy Chillingworth.
"We are excited to see three new names on the Irish team, and are looking forward to welcoming Thomas back. While the spread-out nature of the Games presents some challenges, we are confident that the culture and support will be as present as ever for this team, and we wish them the best of luck in the Games."
Team Ireland schedule
Friday 6 February: Opening Ceremony – Milano (Irish in the Livigno, Cortina and Predazzo clusters)
Saturday 7 February: Cormac Comerford – Downhill (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Sunday 8 February: Thomas Maloney Westgård – 10km + 10km Skiathlon (Cross Country), Predazzo
Wednesday 11 February: Cormac Comerford – Super-G (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Friday 13 February: Thomas Maloney Westgård – 10km Free (Cross Country), Predazzo
Saturday 14 February: Cormac Comerford – Giant Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Sunday 15 February: Anabelle Zurbay – Giant Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Cortina
Monday 16 February: Cormac Comerford – Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Wednesday 18 February: Anabelle Zurbay – Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Cortina
Thursday 19 February: Ben Lynch – Halfpipe Qualification (Freestyle Skiing), Livigno
Friday 20 February: Ben Lynch – Halfpipe Final (Freestyle Skiing), Livigno
Saturday 21 February: Thomas Maloney Westgård – 50km Classic (Cross Country), Predazzo
Sunday 22 February: Closing Ceremony – Verona (All athletes)
