Mum’s pride as daughter prepares for winter games

THE proud mother of a former Special Olympics medal winner has told how her daughter is relishing the prospect of competing in the forthcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea.

Katherine Daly (20), from Dalkey, is one of six Irish athletes who will represent Ireland in Alpine skiing in PyeongChang, from January 26 to February 6, 2013.

Team Ireland, which consists of 14 athletes and a management of five volunteers, will participate in both the alpine skiing and floorball events. This will be the first time that Irish athletes will participate in floorball, a type of hockey played on a rubber mat floor with short playing sticks, at a World Games.

Katherine has been a member of Kilternan Karvers Special Olympics Club, which trains at the National Snowsports Centre in Kilternan, for the past five years. Her mother Anne said her life had changed dramatically since she started skiing at the club.

“She loves the social element of the club,

? she said.

“And the people who run the club really take an interest. That is a big thing when people who are intellectually disabled become adolescents, as there is a real dearth of places for them to be sociable.

“She loves the physical activity aspect of it no matter what the weather,

? Anne added.

This will not be the first time Katherine will represent Ireland on the international sporting stage. In 2009 she was a member of Team Ireland at the World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, where she won a bronze medal.

Anne explained that her talented daughter loved her experience at the games in America and really enjoys being a team member.

“In the US she had a real sense of achievement and a sense that she was participating not only for herself but also for her family, her community and her country.

?

Katherine is currently training with the other Irish athletes in the Austrian Alps. Anne, who is travelling to the forthcoming games in South Korea, said Katherine has trained hard over the years to reach her current level of ability.

She revealed that Katherine is relishing the prospect of travelling to South Korea in January.

“She has been training every week for seven years except in the summer months.

? Anne explained.

“Then Special Olympics Ireland started putting on extra training from last September, and she has been doing some at weekends.

“She is really looking forward to it,

? Anne added.

“This week she is in Austria training every second day. Kilternan is fantastic but it is not real snow. They are up every morning early and they are training all day and she is having a great time.

?

For further information about the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games or to follow Team Ireland’s progress visit www.specialolympics.ie/wintergames