Ireland is sending four athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, marking the nation's continued pursuit of its first Winter Games medal. The team includes alpine skiers Cormac Comerford and Annabelle Zurbay, cross country skier Thomas Maloney Westgaard, and freestyle skier Ben Lynch. Each athlete brings unique backgrounds and aspirations to the international stage.

Cormac Comerford, 29, competes in his first Olympics after three previous attempts, racing in four alpine events including Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom. The mechanical engineer from Kilternan dry slopes qualified through crowdfunding support. Thomas Maloney Westgaard, 30, represents Ireland in his third Winter Olympics, competing in three cross country events after previously finishing 14th in the 15km at Beijing 2022. Born in Norway to an Irish mother, he races professionally for Team Aker Daehile.

Teenager Annabelle Zurbay, who turned 17 just before Christmas, makes history as Ireland's youngest alpine skier at the Winter Olympics. The Vali, Coloarda-based athlete qualified through her grandmother from Westmeath and will compete in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. She also served as one of Ireland's flagbearers alongside Maloney Westgaard. Ben Lynch, 23, makes his Olympic debut in freestyle skiing halfpipe after switching from Canada's development pathway to represent Ireland in 2024.

The Games run from February 6-22, with events spread across multiple venues in the Milan-Cortina region. Ireland's athletes compete across various disciplines, hoping to achieve the nation's first Winter Olympic medal in history.

Quick Fact: Ireland has never won a Winter Olympic medal in its history.