Winter Olympics: The Essex doctor who's making history for Ireland
Last updated 2nd Feb 2022
A 24-year-old doctor is set to become Team Ireland's first-ever competitor in the adrenaline-rushing Luge event at the Winter Olympics.
Elsa Desmond, whose family is from Cavan, has self-funded her trip to Beijing - and on Monday she will take part in her first race, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.
The Luge is considered the fastest sport at the Winter Olympics.
Competitors lie face up and feet first on a sled and have to slide down a narrow frozencourse, which has small turns, as fast as possible.
Flat on their backs, lugers steer the sled and change direction by shifting weight with the help of their calf muscles and use their shoulders to slide around.
Desmond, who is a hospital doctor in Essex, will also be carrying the Team Ireland flag at the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
She told us she could not wait to begin: "It's a dream come true - it really is.
"It's just the most amazing feeling - I keep having to pinch myself that I am going to have to wake up soon."
She said she has been practicing for the event on an athletics track.
"The hard work has been done to get me here," she added. "Now I just need to do what I can do - relax and enjoy it."