Luge athlete full of confidence ahead of World Championships

Competition takes place in Germany, January 27-29.

Ireland’s Elsa Desmond (25) is set to follow up her brilliant debut display at the Women’s Singles Luge at last year’s Winter Olympic Games in Beijing by setting her sights firmly on the World Championships taking place this weekend.

Desmond, whose dad Brendan grew up in Fulham but her paternal grandmother is from Ballyjamesduff (Cavan) and grandfather is from Cork, has spent tha past week in Oberhof, Germany, where the competition is set to take place, January 27-29.

“Trainings finished, it's World Championships Time! Let's Go!” Desmond tweeted early this morning.

Outside of dreaming to win Team Ireland a podium place and medal to boot, Desmond is a doctor in general surgery at Southend University Hospital, having recently completed her medical studies at Kings College London.

She represented Team GB as a junior switched to Ireland where her family has been centrally involved in setting up the Irish Luge Association.

She is the first woman to compete for Ireland internationally in Luge, and at the Beijing Winter Olympics clocked second fastest on track with her third run with a time of 1:02.254.

Desmond finished 33rd overall with an overall time of 3:03.07.719.