Not many athletes get the chance to represent their country, let alone compete at an Olympic Games.
But that is exactly what two Sutherland Shire athletes will experience when the Winter Youth Olympics start in Lillehammer, Norway on Friday.
Emily Arthur will compete in Slopestyle and Halfpipe snowboarding competitions while Zali Offord has qualified for the ski cross event.
Arthur, 16, from Woronora Heights, said it had been a dream to represent Australia at the Olympics.
“A few years ago when I found out that the Youth Olympics was a thing I had a new goal I wanted to achieve and I am over the moon that I can represent my country [on] such a [world] stage,” she said.
Offord, 17, from Helensburgh, said she looked forward to the busy month ahead after training for four months in Austria.