The IOC offers the following Video News Release to all news agencies, broadcasters and online news platforms free of charge. New Zealand might be well known for sporting achievements - the dominance of the Rugby All Blacks and their performances in the America's Cup sailing, to name just two. But in terms of Winter Sports, their success stories are a little harder to come by. It wasn't until 1952 that they first had a Winter Olympic team - and their 1988 team was the first to include athletes competing in something other than alpine skiing. One silver and two bronze - all won on the slopes - is their cumulative medal haul over all of the Winter Games they have participated in. But two teenagers from Dunedin are looking to do something a little different. Ella Cox and Hunter Burke are both competing in the singles luge at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020, with skills honed on the natural track in Naseby, South Island, New Zealand, the only ice luge track in the Southern Hemisphere. In addition, Cox was quick to point out the differences between natural and artificial tracks, and the challenges that adapting to those variations presents. But with winter sports on the increase in their home country, both athletes are optimistic that good performances in St Moritz can inspire others to get involved.
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