A SECOND-GENERATION Irish ski racer from Birmingham will represent Ireland at next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
17-year-old Florence Bell was today named as part of a five-strong Ireland team.
The Birmingham teenager's father is a native of Co Armagh, and she has previously represented both Britain and Ireland.
She took up ski racing at the age of 12 and a year later joined the British Ski Academy based in France.
Until 2009 she represented Britain in races in Europe and New Zealand, winning a European indoor championship, before joining her sister Victoria in competing for Ireland.
She has continued to race for Ireland in premier events in Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Japan in the build-up to Sochi.
She represented Ireland at the first ever World Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012 and at the 2013 European Youth Winter Olympics in Romania.
In next month’s Winter Olympics she will compete in both the downhill slalom and giant slalom events.
The four other team members who will represent Ireland next month are: Seamus O’Connor (snowboarding), Conor Lyne (slalom skiing), Sean Greenwood (skeleton) and Jan Rossiter (cross country skiing).
FLORENCE BELL FACT FILE:
Sport: Alpine Ski Racer
Age: 17
Born: Birmingham, UK
Roots to Ireland: Family from Northern Ireland
Achievements: Yorkshire, Scottish, British and European Indoor Champion at just 12 years of age.
In 2009 she was selected for the British Children’s Ski Team and represented Great Britain in races in Europe and New Zealand.
Represented Ireland at the first ever World Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012 and at the 2013 European Youth Winter Olympics in Romania
See More: Birmingham, Florence Bell, Ireland, Winter Olympics
