Gary Skinner from Terenure, Dublin, will be Ireland’s sole representative at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway which runs from the 12th to the 21st February.
Gary, 17 years of age, is a member of the Ski Club of Ireland and the Leogang Ski Racing Club, Austria.
He is a pupil at Clongowes Wood College and will compete in four downhill events – Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Super Combined.
In all, 71 nations will compete in the Games in over 15 winter sport disciplines.
Gary was a member of the Irish team at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in January last and Lillehammer will be a big step up in the level of competition for him.
However, he is an experienced competitor who has raced in the New Zealand Australia Cup, the Australian National Championships and various Citizen/FIS races in Europe last year.
Gary comes from a sporting background – his mother and father have competed in squash and motorsport respectively and his sister is a budding tennis star.
He was fully kitted out in New Balance Team Ireland clothing at a briefing meeting held at OCI offices in Howth along with Chef de Mission Anne O’Connor.
