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‘It doesn’t matter if they’re on snow or carpet, they adapt so well’: Team Ireland on cloud…

Co Antrim’s Caolan McConville is going for a hat-trick of gold medals on Friday

Medal winners all, Máire Connolly of Team Ireland, a member of Kilternan Karvers, Clanbridge, Galway, Gold, Caolan McConville of Team Ireland, a member of Skiability Northern Ireland, Aghaghallon, Antrim, Gold, Clive Healy of Team Ireland, a member of Waterford Special Olympics Club, Waterford City, Bronze, and Lucy Best of Team Ireland, a member of Skiability Northern Ireland, Balinderry, Antrim after day four of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

12 March 2025; Lucy Best of Team Ireland, a member of Skiability Northern Ireland, Balinderry, Antrim, competing in the Giant Slalon Novice Final, First Round, event during day four of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

13 March 2025; Caolan McConville of Team Ireland, a member of Skiability Northern Ireland, Aghaghallon, Antrim, who was presented with a Gold Medal, in the Advanced Super G Event, his second Gold in two days, during day five of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

12 March 2025; Maire Connelly of Team Ireland, a member of Kilternan Karvers, Clanbridge, Galway with her Gold Medal, won in the Novice Giant Slalon Final, during day four of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

12 March 2025; Clive Healy of Team Ireland, a member of Waterford Special Olympics Club, Waterford City with his Bronze Medal during day four of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Team Ireland were on cloud nine, or maybe even above it, as glory on the Alps carried into a second day.

Having claimed five medal on Wednesday, the skiers repeated the trick today, by adding a further four to the count in Sestriere.

"More bling” exclaimed Peadar McConville as his son, Caolan took home a second gold medal on the slopes in as many days.

He’s going for the hat-trick on Friday, as the Special Olympic team’s first ever advanced skier.

Waterford’s Clive Healy also took home his second medal of the week, a silver and Antrim’s Lucy Best also claimed gold, to make it another double.

Reacting to her result, Lucy Best (32) said: "I feel amazing, I'm so glad I got another gold medal, I'm just really pleased. To any young athletes out there starting out, I'd say go for it, work hard, and you could get a gold medal like me - you can do it, definitely! I did it for my friends, but more importantly I did it for all my supporters, and my dad - I'm making him proud!"

Máire Connelly (20) from Galway added a bronze medal to Wednesday’s gold, with proud mother, Ber insisting it was all down to practice.

“Two medals in two days in two races is a fantastic result - we are over the moon about it. Máire has been skiing for about nine or ten years, and in the last year or two she has really improved a lot. Preparing for the Winter Games has improved her skiing as well - she's a good, controlled, capable skier! We're delighted she got her medal again today, it's fantastic,” she said.

With no snow in Ireland, the team has been predominantly training on dry slopes in Kilternan and Craigavon, but the Team Ireland delegation had always been confident the preparation would stand them in good stead when it came to facing up against the world.

Director of Sport, Karen Coventry said: “it doesn’t matter whether they’re on snow or on carpet, they adapt so well”.

"Just looking up the slopes here today, it just didn’t faze them. They were focused, they were determined, they knew what to do and they came down really clean through all the gates and I’m super proud for that,” Ms Coventry said.

"This is the first World Winter Games since 2017, so it’s been a long time coming, huge expectation, huge amount of training.

"This time around we’ve put in strong minds, our mental health, our physical health and our training team, so look they’re really well prepared and the results have really shown that this time.”

12 March 2025; Máire Connolly of Team Ireland, a member of Kilternan Karvers, Clanbridge, Galway with her Gold Medal, won in the Novice Giant Slalon Final, during day four of the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Ms Coventry has known double-gold medalist, McConville (21) since he was a kid representing Team Ireland at the 2017 Winter Games in Austria.

“To watch him grow and develop, he just trains so hard for it and he deserves every medal put around his neck.

"He’s at the top of his game, he’s competing against athletes that are on snow all year round so again it’s just a phenomenal achievement.”

And while his family in Italy and back home in Antrim will already be celebrating, McConville insisted he will hold off on having a beer until after he competes for a third medal tomorrow.

Team Ireland skiing star Caolan McConville aims for clean sweep of gold medals after more success on the slopes

“This is only his second time doing Super-G, and he smashed it today,” his mother Edel said.

“I’d say [the celebrations] will start tonight, definitely, his sisters will all be very proud of him.”

But her son still has his eyes on one final prize.

"I’ve got one more to go, so not on the pints yet,” he said.

Waterford’s Clive Healy (30) had a similar mantra after collecting his silver medal.

"Roll on tomorrow,” he said, adding that his success in the Super-G alpine skiing discipline came down to the fast pace.

"It’s faster a lot faster, a lot better. It suits me a lot better," he insisted.

"I’ll go as fast as I can tomorrow,” he added.

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