Elsa Desmond knows she is not going to win a medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics. But she is 1 as the first women's luge (无舵雪橇）Olympian from Ireland. She was the 26th to 2 the line in the first run of the women's race on Monday night, 3 than none of the other athletes. That did not 4to her. She celebrated with a large smile on her face.
Although she will not win in Beijing, she has already won some 5. She had been given many reasons why she could not compete: she is too short, she did not start 6at a young age, and she could not balance a(n) 7 job with competing in a sport. The biggest difficulty simply might have been that Ireland did not have a luge organization. So, she 8one herself; she had to 9.
And now, 10, she is a luge Olympian. "I'm a doctor in general surgery, I have all these really visible challenges, but I think everyone has worked as 11as they can to be here." She has delayed parts of her job to compete in the Olympics, but her 12gave her the time off. And her co-workers are becoming big luge fans, extremely proud of her.
Desmond has 13two demanding jobs — sliding a few months out of the year and living a life in medicine. Last season there was a(n) 14when she had to take important medical examinations in hotels in Germany where other sliders were staying. "I had to 15signs on my door saying 'Do not disturb, exam in 16'in about six different languages."
Desmond got the 17of representing her country in Beijing, and being one of two people 18Ireland's flag during the opening ceremony on Friday. "I don't think I can 19words how excited I was to lead out the team. I really hope that I make my country 20."
