REST OF TEAM IRELAND IN PYEONGCHANG

TESS ARBEZ Age: 20 From: Vetraz,

Haute Savoie, France. Tess’ maternal grandfather Francis Neerman, the son of a Belgian who came to Ireland to help set up the Carlow sugar factory, grew up in Blackrock, Dublin. He met his French wife when she visited her Dublin relatives to improve her English. Her own father’s uncle competed, in Olympic ski jumping, in Grenoble in 1968.

Previous Results: 2016World Senior Championships: 52nd in Slalom, 59th in Giant Slalom.

2015: World Junior Championships: 29th in Slalom, 35th in Giant Slalom.

Olympic Events: Alpine Skiing Giant Slalom (Feb 12) and Slalom (Feb 14).

PATRICK McMILLAN Age: 26 From: Ogonnelloe,

Killaloe, Co Clare. Pat played hurling and rugby and, while in boarding school in Kings Hospital, made a Leinster U-19 squad that included Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan. After deciding he would not make elite rugby grade, he switched to skiing. He has deferred his studies in DIT to train full time in Flattach, Austria. Previous Results: 2015 World Senior Championships: 53rd in Slalom, 58th in Giant Slalom.

2016: Missed 2017 World Championships after bad collarbone injury in December 2016.

Olympic Events: Alpine Skiing – Downhill (Feb 11), Alpine Combined (Feb 13), Super-G (Feb 15).

BRENDAN ‘BUBBA’ NEWBY Age: 21 From: Orem, Utah,

USA.

Brendan was born in Cork when his father

Van was working as a two-year guest lecturer in economics at UCC. He first skied at four and competed at 13 and races on the World Cup circuit, which is the premier division of skiing. To help fund his sport, he works mornings in a ski-shop and spends his nights coaching skiing on floodlit slopes. Previous Results: 2017 World Senior Championships 25th. Recent World Cups: 12th in Secret Garden China (Dec ‘17) and 23rd in Mammoth USA (Jan ‘18). Olympic Event: Freestyle skiing: Half-pipe Qualifying (Feb 20). HalfPipe final (Feb 22)

THOMAS WESTGAARD Age: 22 From: Leka,

Norway.

Thomas’ mum Celia Maloney, from Dunmore in Galway, moved to Norway in 1985 after meeting her Norwegian husband in the Canaries. Thomas, a third-year sports science student, grew up on their dairy farm on the tiny island of Leka (pop: 600). His best event is 50km. Previous Results: 2017 World Senior Championships: 49th in 15km, 58th in Skiathlon, 77th in Sprint.

Recent World Cups: 70th in 15km pursuit and 81st in 15km Classic, Toblach Italy (Dec ’17).

Events: Cross-Country skiing: Skiathlon 15kmx2 (Feb 11), Sprint Classic (Feb 13), Free 15km (Feb 16) and 50km Classic (Feb 24).