Kirsten McGarry, RCSI physiotherapy student and Irish Olympic skier achieved great success recently and came third in the International Ski Federation (FIS) Racing Series, Giant Slalom, held in Cardrona, New Zealand.

The Giant Slalom saw 15 nations battling for places in the first FIS race of the 2009/2010 Calendar, which is also an Olympic season year. Kirsten has spent the past 16 months away from alpine skiing following a hip operation however she has been training hard and hopes to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Kirsten has achieved great skiing success to date and is currently ranked 34th in her age category. In 2006 she competed in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy where she achieved the best Olympic Alpine Ski point score of any Irish racer to date.

Kirsten said: “I got into sport because my parents are ski instructors and all of my winters have been spent in the French Alps. I was two years of age when my parents first strapped me on two little boards and I started racing when I was nine. Ultimately, my aims are to represent myself and my country well and I hope that my ski career will be long and successful.”

Kirsten has completed Foundation Year physiotherapy in RCSI and will start first year physiotherapy in October 2009. Kirsten said: “I simply adore my life in RCSI, my course is fascinating and is full of challenge in subjects I haven't studied before, like Chemistry and Physics.”