Inspiring Women in Sport: Winter World Games Athletes & Coaches
As Team Ireland gear up for competition at the World Winter Games in Turin, let’s find out about the women of the team – athletes and coaches – and their experience.
Jane McDowell – Assistant Coach, Alpine Skiing
“The current team heading to Turin are a great bunch of athletes. The three women competing are brilliant skiers and hopefully will bring home some medals. More than that, though, they have fun together meeting new people and making friends.
"The women in the group heading to Turin are all close and supportive, both athletes and coaches. I think women are good at promoting this family atmosphere and caring environment. This is vital as the athletes competing may feel homesick, stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. It is difficult being thrown out of their normal routine into the huge world stage that the Olympics are but we are definitely, collectively, a "Team" and will work together to ensure all athletes have a wonderful experience.”
Dorothy Kavanagh – Floorball Assistant Coach
“For these World Games we have a small team. The Team has been split for training and have come together for workshops, fitness and the important meals. Athletes have mixed really well when the opportunity has arisen. We also had support of the all-women team for Stronger Minds, Happier Lives. All experiences, opinions, concerns and expertise were valued by everyone. In my experience this has always been the case when preparing Ireland squads, no matter if they are men are women.
“The coaching and delegation team are exceptional women, who have such great passion, knowledge and empathy for our athletes. But they still know how to challenge athletes to go that bit further – whether out on the slope, or outside the sporting arena by opening up at a workshop, sharing a joke or a story with others.
The women competing at these World Games have shown great work ethic and team spirit; I couldn’t be prouder!”
Maire Connolly - Alpine Skiing Athlete
Maire Connolly is a confident athlete who first joining the Kilternan Karvers Special Olympics club in 2016.
Turin will be her first World Winter Games, following a strong performance in the 2024 Ireland Winter Games, and she gained one gold and three bronze medals in artistic gymnastics at the 2023 World Summer Games in Berlin. She emphasises the importance of not letting yourself be held back by fear: “you could be afraid, or worried about things, but if you get support from people around you – coaches, team-mates, family – you can do it!”
Lorraine Whelan - Alpine Skiing Athlete
Lorraine has been a Special Olympics stalwart for 25 years, being a member of 2 clubs - Kilternan Karvers where she was taught skiing, and Blue Dolphins Club in Wicklow where she honed her swimming. Since then, she has represented Ireland in alpine skiing at four World Winter Games from the USA to Japan and Austria, and competed in swimming at the 2014 European Games in Belgium.
These experiences have given Lorraine plenty of medals, but also plenty of new experiences, friendships, and the courage to try new things and take on new tasks.
“Special Olympics and sport have really helped me to be independent, to learn life skills, and to gain confidence in my own abilities. The team around me are great and I get support from them too.”
Lucy Best - Alpine Skiing Athlete
Lucy Best has been skiing since she was 10, and her sporting experience so far has been a great one, with medals won and friends made, and she has a wide range of hobbies including a love of animals, including rounding up sheep on her quad bike.
Lucy emphasises that anyone can give skiing and sport a try, regardless of age or gender – “I love the chance to ski, and I get great support from my coaches – everyone should give it a go!”
