Nancy Chillingworth reveals the extraordinary journey of Team Ireland to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. As Chef de Mission, she’s orchestrating a team of up to eight athletes competing across seven winter disciplines – despite Ireland having neither mountains nor snow to train on.

The podcast takes us behind the scenes of Olympic preparation, exploring how Irish winter athletes train globally from Korea to Canada while still maintaining a unified team culture. Nancy shares fascinating insights into the logistical challenges of an Olympics spread across northern Italy’s Alpine region, and how Team Ireland is tackling them through innovative international collaboration with Denmark and Iceland.

We discover athletes like cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgard, who achieved an impressive 14th place in Beijing despite battling COVID, and learn how short track skaters and alpine specialists represent Ireland on the world stage. Nancy’s passion for building team identity shines through as she explains her philosophy: “Success breeds success if you feel invested in it.”

The conversation explores how permanent ice facilities in Ireland could transform winter sports participation, with young athletes already showing impressive potential through youth competitions. Nancy shares personal insights about her journey in Olympic sport, revealing what drives her commitment to Irish athletes competing in unlikely disciplines.

Whether you’re a winter sports enthusiast or simply curious about Olympic preparation, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into how a nation without traditional winter sports infrastructure can still compete at the highest level through determination, creativity, and international cooperation. Don’t miss Nancy’s delight in small team advantages: “When you have a small team, you can get really specific in what’s needed.”

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

An area of sport that has been in the shadows but with a team of as many as eight and a Winter Olympics in Europe, that could all be about to change.

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