History for Team Ireland as Ben Lynch becomes first Irish skier ever to reach Winter Olympics final
Ben Lynch has made history for Team Ireland after he became the first Irish skier ever to make a final at the Winter Olympics.
The Dubliner, who moved to Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, when he was two years old, was one of just four Winter Olympians that Team Ireland sent to Milan-Cortina.
The 23-year-old took to the half pipe on Friday morning in the freestyle skiing event, having been due to compete on Thursday before adverse weather conditions and severe snowfall at Livigno Park in Valtellina pushed the event out by a day.
Ben Lynch has made history for Team Ireland after he became the first Irish skier ever to make a final at the Winter Olympics. Pic: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Ben, who was recovering from a knee injury prior to the games, initially scored 57 in his first run, putting him in 14th, just outside the top 12, which would’ve put him in the running for the final.
He fared far better in his second run, however — scoring an impressive 75.75, which put him in 11th place, enough to get into the final.
‘I’m feeling unbelievable, I’m so excited, really grateful to be here, and to make the final is the cherry on top,’ Ben said after qualifying.
Ben, born in Dublin but who moved to Vancouver when he was a child, came in 11th place, and qualifying for the final. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire
‘In my first run, I landed perfectly. I went for the right 12 in my second run, which I hadn’t done in training, so it was the first time for me today. To land that in my run was unbelievable.
‘I skied better than I ever have today. I’m officially an Olympian and officially a finalist, which is just mind-blowing.’
The Freestyle Skiing final will air at 6.25pm on RTÉ Player this evening.
However, they’ll be without one of the top medal prospects in New Zealand’s Fin Melville Iles, who took a bad knock after landing badly during his second run.
The 19-year-old was a heavy favourite for a podium finish this evening, but fell on the first run — before crashing badly on his second.
‘Everything [is] stable and positive,’ Team New Zealand said. ‘[Fin is] talking to his mum who is with him.’
