Aoife Hoey
Encyclopedia
Aoife Hoey is an Irish
bobsledder who has competed since 2004. She finished 22nd out of 23 in the two-woman event at the 2005 FIBT World Championships
in Calgary
.
At 6 in 4 in (1.93 m), she was the tallest woman at the 2010 Winter Olympics
.
Aoife and her older sister teamed up in the Winter of 2002. Aoife as pilot and Siobhain on brake.They Siobhán
, received partial funding from the Olympic Council of Ireland
but no commercial sponsorship. Following the worst possible start to the 2005-2006 Winter season (Serious injury)they narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2006 Winter Olympics
.
In Jan 2006 Siobhain retired.
Teaming up with new recruit Jennifer Corcoran.For the 2007-08 bobsleigh season, Hoey qualified to compete in the European Bobsleigh Cup. She competed in the first two events of the season, finishing fifth at Igls
on November 22, 2007 and 14th at Königssee
on November 29, 2007.. Funding did not allow for the athletes to complete the Winter sliding season. In 2008 Aoife and Brake athlete Jennifer stood on the rostrum at the World Junior Bobsleigh Championships in Igls Austria bringing home to Ireland the first major Championship medal in a Winter Sport event.
Following a difficult season 2009-2010 racing in European Cup and World Cup events with brake athlete Claire Bergin, Hoey qualified for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver Canada.Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Vancouver
. She was named flagbearer for the Irish teamIrish team
at the opening ceremony of those games. . Older sister Siobhain was appointed to the honoured position of Chef de Mission for the Irish team at the games.
The bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin finished in 17th place at the 2010 Winter Olympics
.. Finishing ahead of team with all the advantages more established Winter sport nations could offer. Aoife's ice coach at the games was Horst Hornlein former Olympic Luge champion.
In 2005 she was Irish national outdoor champion in the triple jump
List of Irish national outdoor champions., p. 32. - accessed February 9, 2008. She also works for the Athletics Association of Ireland in the High Performance unit.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
bobsledder who has competed since 2004. She finished 22nd out of 23 in the two-woman event at the 2005 FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships 2005
The FIBT World Championships 2005 took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the fourth time, doing so previously in 1992 , 1996, and 2001 .-Two man:-Four man:-Two woman:-Men:-Women:...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
.
At 6 in 4 in (1.93 m), she was the tallest woman at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.
Bobsleigh career
In 2000 Aoife was selected as part of the Irish women's bobsleigh Team however due to her young age she had to make do with dry land training with the team. A year later she took to the ice sliding with Lesley Fitzgerald(pilot)competing with older sister Siobhain for the number one Brake athlete position. Lesley and Aoife won medals in the America's Cup event in Calgary Canada.Aoife piloted the Irish team home to two further America's cup races in 2009 at Lake Placid New York.Aoife and her older sister teamed up in the Winter of 2002. Aoife as pilot and Siobhain on brake.They Siobhán
Siobhán Hoey
Siobháin Hoey is Irish sportswoman from Portarlington, County Laois.-Athletics career:Siobhain's athletic career at National level began in 1980...
, received partial funding from the Olympic Council of Ireland
Olympic Council of Ireland
The Olympic Council of Ireland or OCI is the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Ireland. Its mission is "to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Ireland, in accordance with the International Olympic Committee’s guiding document — the Olympic Charter."-History:After the First...
but no commercial sponsorship. Following the worst possible start to the 2005-2006 Winter season (Serious injury)they narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
.
In Jan 2006 Siobhain retired.
Teaming up with new recruit Jennifer Corcoran.For the 2007-08 bobsleigh season, Hoey qualified to compete in the European Bobsleigh Cup. She competed in the first two events of the season, finishing fifth at Igls
Igls bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Olympic Sliding Centre Innsburck is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Igls, Austria . The most recent version of the track was completed in 1975 and is the first permanent, combination artificially refrigerated bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track, serving as a model for other...
on November 22, 2007 and 14th at Königssee
Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Schönau am Königsee, Germany. It is located near Königssee...
on November 29, 2007.. Funding did not allow for the athletes to complete the Winter sliding season. In 2008 Aoife and Brake athlete Jennifer stood on the rostrum at the World Junior Bobsleigh Championships in Igls Austria bringing home to Ireland the first major Championship medal in a Winter Sport event.
Following a difficult season 2009-2010 racing in European Cup and World Cup events with brake athlete Claire Bergin, Hoey qualified for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver Canada.Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The bobsleigh competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at the Whistler Sliding Centre between 20 and 27 February 2010.-Medal table:-Events:Three bobsleigh events were held at Vancouver 2010:- Competition schedule :...
Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. She was named flagbearer for the Irish teamIrish team
Ireland at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The Irish Olympic Team participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Alpine skiing :- Bob-sleigh:An alternate was also sent to Vancouver.*Leona Byrne- Cross-country skiing :Distance...
at the opening ceremony of those games. . Older sister Siobhain was appointed to the honoured position of Chef de Mission for the Irish team at the games.
The bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin finished in 17th place at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.. Finishing ahead of team with all the advantages more established Winter sport nations could offer. Aoife's ice coach at the games was Horst Hornlein former Olympic Luge champion.
Athletics career
Athletics career began at the age of seven at the Nation Community games Championships. Aoife medalled in the Long-Jump, Hurdles, Shot-Putt events in every age group at the Laois championships ,Leinster Juvenile championships ,National championships and Irish schools championships both indoor and outdoor. She was Irish Junior Champion in the Long-Jump, Triple-Jump, Shot-putt, Hurdles and Hepthatlon.She reresented Ireland at the FISEC games, Celtic International, schools International and Europa Cup events.In 2005 she was Irish national outdoor champion in the triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
List of Irish national outdoor champions., p. 32. - accessed February 9, 2008. She also works for the Athletics Association of Ireland in the High Performance unit.