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Ireland's Winter Olympic Dreams, Nurtured Without Snow by Nancy Chillingworth
Let us know what’s on your mind
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."
Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com
We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.
Our upcoming live events, including our League of Ireland Breakfast at Grant Thornton on February 4th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.
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By Rob HartnettLet us know what’s on your mind
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."
Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com
We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.
Our upcoming live events, including our League of Ireland Breakfast at Grant Thornton on February 4th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.