'It’s all been insanely amazing' - Team Ireland history maker Anabelle Zurbay reflects on Olympic debut

The 17-year-old finished 48th in the Women's Slalom with a combined time of 1:58.50 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 - 15:45

Andrew Horgan

Anabelle Zurbay reflected on an “insanely amazing” Olympic debut after capping her maiden Games with a determined performance in the Women’s Slalom on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old finished 48th with a combined time of 1:58.50 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, with the overall competition being won by USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin in 1:39.10, who added a third Olympic gold medal to her collection.

Silver went to Camille Ras from Switzerland, and bronze went to Anna Swenn Larsson, in a dramatic finish, as several of the top seeds in the second run did not finish on a demanding, turn-heavy course.

“I feel really good,” began Zurbay, the youngest member of Team Ireland.

“It definitely wasn’t exactly the last one was what I was hoping for, but I’m honestly really happy to just make it down to the finish line and say that I finished all of my runs, which I feel like that’s a bit difficult in slalom for sure.

“This one was super turny and it was a bit more of a divot for sure. So, it’s hard. I started off strong and then I don’t know what happened, but I caught my ski and almost face planted, but I saved it and pulled it together.

“It was kind of sucky because it was right on the top, flat there, but you can’t control that, and then I hit it hard trying to come down here.

Anabelle Zurbay of Team Ireland competes during the Women's Giant Slalom. Pic: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images.

“At the end I just got thrown, I think in a hole or something, and it almost went out, but I just tried to stick with it. I knew if I made it to the finish, that was my ultimate goal.

“It’s been pretty overwhelming, but it’s a really great experience just to be here and just able to ski. Definitely.

“I think just the whole thing has been a highlight, honestly. The village, really great training into Bormio and then pushing out of the start here, it’s all been insanely amazing.

“Just looking out at the crowd, it’s super insane that you’re the one on the hill and not the one in the stands. It’s mind blowing. At the start one of the guys was filming me and we were dancing and I started to dab, and then I was like, ‘wait, I need a dab in the finish.’ If I made it, I was dabbing in the finish.”

Zurbay’s Olympic action is now over so the focus switches to freestyle skiing where Ben Lynch will make his Olympic debut in Livigno on the halfpipe on Thursday.