{{Short description|Irish luger (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Elsa Desmond | image = 2018-11-22 Rennrodel-Weltcup Innsbruck-Igls StP 5380 LR10 by Stepro-2.jpg | caption = Desmond in 2018 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|8|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Buckingham, England | education = | alma_mater = King's College London | occupation = | years_active = 2018–present | employer = | agent = | height = | weight = | spouse = | life_partner = | other_interests = | website = | country = {{flag|Ireland}} | sport = {{Luge}} | rank = 27th World Cup Overall Women's Singles Overall 2023/2024<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fil-luge.org/en/athletes/elsa-desmond|title=Athletes. Elsa Desmond}}</ref> | event = Singles | collegeteam = | universityteam = | league = | league_type = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = Adam Rosen<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/sport/16902196.luge-world-cup-elsa-desmond-pathway-2022-winter-olympics/ |title=Luge World Cup: Elsa Desmond on a pathway to the 2022 Winter Olympics |website=Royal Borough Observer|date=September 25, 2018 }}</ref> | retired = | coaching = | worlds = 2019 FIL World Luge Championships, 2021 FIL World Luge Championships, 2023 FIL World Luge Championships, 2024 FIL World Luge Championships<ref name="auto2"/> | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = 2022 | paralympics = | highestranking = 10th (2019 U23 World Championships)<ref name="auto2" /> | pb = | show-medals = | medaltemplates = }}
'''Elsa Desmond''' (born 6 August 1997), nicknamed the "Flying Doctor" <ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-olympics-luge-ireland-elsa-desmond-11644131933 |title=The Mom-and-Pop Operation That Sent Ireland's 'Flying Doctor' to Beijing |first=Georgi |last=Kantchev |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> is an Irish luger.<ref name="auto2" /><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/elsa-desmond-interview-5328636-Jan2021/ |title=The medical student who has made sporting history for Ireland |first=Paul |last=Fennessy |website=The42|date=January 21, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ireland-names-six-strong-beijing-winter-olympics-team-1.4784457 |title=Ireland names six-strong Beijing Winter Olympics team |first=Ian |last=O'Riordan |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> She was Irelands first Olympic luge athlete and the Irish flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref name=fl>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/beijing-2022-flagbearers-opening-ceremony|title=Beijing-2022 Opening Ceremony Flag-Bearers|date=4 February 2022|website=www.olympics.com/|publisher=International Olympic Committee (IOC)|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>
==Early life== Desmond was born in Buckingham in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.com/luge/elsa-desmond_prs522417/person.shtml |title=Elsa Desmond - Player Profile - Luge |website=Eurosport}}</ref> Her paternal grandparents were from County Cavan and County Cork, Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishpost.com/sport/meet-some-of-the-irish-athletes-aiming-to-make-the-2022-winter-olympics-in-60-days-225762 |title=Meet some of the Irish athletes aiming to make the 2022 Winter Olympics in 60 days. |first=Conor |last=O'Donoghue |website=The Irish Post}}</ref> She grew up in England, India and Turkey, and was part of the University of London Air Squadron.<ref name="auto"/>
==Sporting career== [[File:2022-01-14 Women's Sprint at 2021-22 Oberhof Luge World Cup by Sandro Halank–059.jpg|thumb|Desmond at the 2021–22 Luge World Cup.]] [[File:2021-01-31 Women's at the FIL World Luge Championships Königssee 2021 by Sandro Halank–147.jpg|thumb|Desmond at the 2021 FIL World Luge Championships]] Desmond began to compete internationally in luge in 2018. Elsa founded the Irish Luge Federation with support from her family to allow her to compete internationally, and continues to be a fully self funded athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/elsa-desmond-luge-ireland-first-olympic-luger |title=Daredevil doctor Elsa Desmond blazes trail as Ireland's first Olympic luger |website=olympics}}</ref> She competed for Ireland at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the women's singles event becoming Irelands first luge athlete to compete at the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-team-aiming-to-do-a-cool-runnings-at-beijing-winter-olympics-41274132.html |title=2022 Winter Olympics Games: Irish team aiming to do a 'Cool Runnings' in Beijing |website=independent|date=January 24, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.ie/introducing-elsa-desmond-luge/ |title=Introducing....Elsa Desmond (LUGE) | d jhbnn#TeamIreland - Olympics |website=olympics.ie/|date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref> She continues to run the Irish Luge Federation alongside coaching the growing junior team with the aim of ensuring the longevity of the sport within Ireland.
At the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea Desmond was the team leader for the Irish luge team, coaching youth athlete Lily Cooke.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/other-sport/193883/cookham-s-elsa-desmond-helping-to-bring-through-the-next-generation-of-luge-athletes.htm |title=Cookham's Elsa Desmond helping to bring through the next generation of Luge athletes |website=maidenhead advertiser}}</ref>
Elsa's qualification for 2026 Winter Olympics was surrounded with controversy. Desmond met all criteria to qualify, but at the last minute her Olympic spot was allocated to one of the Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics with no transparency or reasoning given by the International Luge Federation for this decision <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thecurrency.news/articles/216043/the-russia-problem-elsa-desmond-deserves-a-straight-answer-about-her-olympic-heartbreak/|title=The Russia problem: Elsa Desmond deserves a straight answer about her Olympic heartbreak.|website=thecurrency}}</ref>. The Irish Luge Federation took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who ruled no jurisdiction as the Olympic selection process concluded more than 10 days prior to the opening ceremony of the games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/elsa-desmond-2-6944498-Feb2026/ |title=CAS declares lack of jurisdiction in Irish appeal. |first=Raul |last=Daffunchio Picazo |website=insidethegames}}</ref> . Although Desmond never got the opportunity to compete at her second games, it is widely acknowledged in the press that she was unlawfully deprived her spot to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.offtheball.com/podcasts/otb-daily/elsa-desmond-its-a-david-vs-goliath-situation-fighting-for-olympic-justice-going-to-court-for-her-winter-olympics-place-off-the-ball |title=It's a David vs Goliath situation |website=offtheball}}</ref>.
=== Women's World Cup Season Results ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:60px;"| Season ! style="width:40px;"| Ranking ! style="width:60px;"| Points |- | 2018/19 | 43 | 28 |- | 2019/20 | 61 | - |- | 2020/21 | 50 | 8 |- | 2021/22 | 54 | 13 |- | 2022/23 | 31 | 71 |- | 2023/24 | 26 | 102 |- | 2024/25 | 28 | 118 |}
=== Championship Results === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:60px;"| Year ! style="width:250px;"| Event ! style="width:60px;"| Ranking |- | 2019 | U23 World Championship Winterberg. | 10 |- | 2019 | World Championship Winterberg. | 30 |- | 2019 | European Championships Oberhof | 24 |- | 2021 | World Championship Konigssee. | 40 |- | 2023 | World Championship Oberhof. | 35 |- | 2023 | European Championships Sigulda. | 20 |- | 2024 | World Championship Oberhof. | 34 |- | 2024 | European Championships Innsbruck. | 27 |- | 2025 | World Championship Whistler Sliding Centre. | 30 |- | 2026 | European Championships Oberhof | 19 |}
=== Olympic Results === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! style="width:60px;"| Year ! style="width:80px;"| Host City ! style="width:60px;"| Ranking |- | 2022 | Beijing. | 33 |}
FIL Official Results <ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fil-luge.org/en/athletes/elsa-desmond|title=Athletes. Elsa Desmond}}</ref>
==Personal life== Desmond studied medicine at King's College London, and began to work at Southend University Hospital in July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/southend-hospital-doctor-competing-winter-6550762 |title=Essex doctor competing in Winter Olympics in China |first=Ellis |last=Whitehouse |date=January 26, 2022 |website=EssexLive}}</ref> Desmond then relocated to Iceland <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/im-ginger-im-far-happier-in-cold-weather-icelandic-based-irish-luger-elsa-desmond-targets-second-olympics/a1625274222.html |title=‘I’m ginger. I’m far happier in cold weather’ – Icelandic-based Irish luger Elsa Desmond targets second Olympics |first=Sinéad |last=Kissane |date=2025 |website=irishindependent}}</ref>, where she aims to pursue a career in emergency medicine or anaesthetics with the aim of eventually working in the Air medical services.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b253ae855b02cab2bac2575/t/64510ce10737a87bfc416299/1683033314018/Dr+Elsa+Desmond+.pdf|title=Dr Elsa Desmond|website=squarespace.com}}</ref>
==See also== * Ireland at the 2022 Winter Olympics
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{FIL|elsa-desmond}} * {{Olympics.ie|elsa-desmond}} * {{Olympics.com profile|elsa-desmond}} * {{Olympedia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Desmond, Elsa}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Irish sportswomen Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:English people of Irish descent Category:Irish female lugers Category:Lugers at the 2022 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic lugers for Ireland Category:People educated at Stowe School Category:People from Buckingham Category:Sportspeople from Buckinghamshire