Day Two – Team Ireland at Milano Cortina ‘26
Three-time Olympian, Thomas Maloney Westgård finished his first race of three at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with a 35th place in the Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon in a time of 49.24.6. The Cross-Country skiing events take place in the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium just outside the town of Predazzo.
Competition took place in relatively mild conditions creating a tough course for the athletes in the event which involves skiers competing 10km using classic skis before transitioning to a 10km free skating finish. Wearing bib 36 off the start, in what is his least preferred discipline, Maloney Westgård stuck with the opening hectic pace.
Speaking afterwards, the thirty-year-old said,
“That was a tough one. Soft conditions and quite icy and tricky in the downhills and crusty corners. So it was a really challenging course for sure. Just like it should be in the Olympics. I was a bit anxious on some of the downhill. So, yeah, I’m happy to have started the Olympics.
“My plan was to stick in the front as long as I could, but the pace was ridiculous. It was full out from the start and there was no time for rest. I felt like I got a blood taste after like 3K and the cramps were coming up halfway through the race. So, it was so tough, just like it should be in the Olympics. But, I put everything out there and I can’t really ask for more.”
Starting in position 36 the endurance racer relied on his pacing to bring him through to the line. Despite the classic section being his traditionally better discipline, it was in the second half of the race when Maloney Westgård found his form,
“I’m usually better in classic, but the pace was so high, I almost got stiff on it. So I kind of looked forward to the change because I know that I’d kind of have fresher legs than the others at the exchange, usually. I had pretty good guys around me. It was like Mika Vermeulen from Austria who has been second in the World Cup and Gus Schumacher (USA) who has won the World Cup race. So there were many, many good skiers around me. The Olympics is really competitive. So yeah, it was a tough race.”
Describing a season that has had highs and lows, the Norwegian-born racer, with Galway roots, said,
“It has been quite challenging, challenging for me this season. I struggle a bit with overreaching. So, I had kind of no clue what kind of shape I came here to the Olympics, and I mean, I had had better races for sure, but, I’m really happy. I’m proud to represent Ireland here, and I put everything else there, and I can’t really ask for more, I gave everything, and I couldn’t really do more, and I just look forward to the upcoming races.”
Last night’s pre-race briefing revolved around the selection of skis for this race. Coach Hans Kristian Standheim and Ski Technician Christian Nordkvelde spent a significant amount of time this week selecting the appropriate skis for these conditions, with this selection being a key component for cross-country skiers.
Maloney Westgård said,
“Equipment means so much in this game. You can almost compare it to Formula One where like the skis are just as important as the cars. You have to find the right combination of good kick, grip in the hills for the classic part. At the same time as you can’t have too much because then you miss a bit of glide. But today when it’s so soft, you need kick and it’s really challenging to find the balance for sure.”
The Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026 is a stark contrast to the Games that took place during a pandemic in Beijing 2022. Speaking about the atmosphere, he said,
“That was the best atmosphere by far that I’ve witnessed in my Olympic career. So fantastic. I heard my name was shouted out there and yeah, it’s really cool to have good spectators and fans around the course. That’s how it should be. So it’s good to have the Olympic Games back in Europe.
One special spectator made the trip to Tesero for Maloney Westgård, his mother Celia,
“I’m so grateful that she came here. I’m really impressed that she managed to come all the way from the remote island back in Norway by herself. So fair play to her coming out here. I saw her at the warmup and it’s quite emotional.
“I mean, because my father, he skied a long-distance race here in 2012, which is a popular race where many Norwegians come to race. And sadly, he passed away in 2018. But she sent me a message earlier today. It was quite emotional being here in my father’s footsteps as well. And yeah, for sure, he’s out there with me today. That’s how I look on it.”
Today’s event was won by Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, with Mathis Desloges from France taking silver. Norway’s Martin Loewstroem Nyenget rounded off the podium in third place.
The next competition for Team Ireland is the Men’s Super-G in Alpine Skiing, with Cormac Comerford racing in his second event on the 11 February in Bormio. Following that action, attention moves back to Predazzo, when Thomas Maloney Westgård switches his focus to the 10km Free.
Please contact heather@olympicsport.ie for interview requests and for moving images of training, which will be available over the coming weeks.
RESULTS – SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY:
Cross-Country Skiing, Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon Final, Thomas Maloney Westgård 35th with a time of 49.24.6
SCHEDULE – WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY (All times are Irish times – Italy is one hour ahead)
10:30 Alpine Skiing, Men’s Super-G Final, Cormac Comerford