Townsville local Ferlazzo will make history as the first Australian Luge athlete to compete at three Olympics. In Skeleton fellow Queenslander, 31-year-old Narracott will compete at her second Games, with West Australian Nick Timmings to make his Olympic debut after more than a decade in the Australian Skeleton program.

The sliders will compete at the Yanqing Sliding Centre just outside Beijing, which includes a world-first 360 degree turn and see athletes reach top speeds of up to 140 km/h.

Narracott’s selection comes off the best season of her career, highlighted by a first ever Australian World Cup victory in Skeleton last week in St Moritz, Switzerland, while Timmings and Ferlazzo both enjoyed successful World Cup seasons after a disrupted 2020/2021 season.

Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing, Geoff Lipshut, welcomed the athletes to the Team.

“Congratulations to Alex, Jackie and Nick - today is a fantastic day to celebrate for you, your families and friends,” Mr Lipshut said.

“This is the result of decades of work, so much time put in on the tracks around the world, in the gym, away from Australia to compete at these Olympics.

“Today’s selection highlights that it doesn’t matter where you’re from in Australia, if you have the drive, determination and skill that Jackie, Alex and Nick display, whether you’re from north Queensland or West Australia, you can chase your Winter Olympic dream.

“Thank you to Bobsleigh Skeleton Australia and Luge Australia for developing these athletes from their first time on ice to the Australian Olympic Team, and to the Queensland Academy of Sport and West Australian Institute of Sport for your ongoing support of the athletes’ pursuits.

Ferlazzo already has Australia’s best ever finish in men’s luge with his 28th in Pyeongchang, and says his experience has him primed to go even better in Beijing.

“This is such a special moment,” Ferlazzo said. “I'm stoked first of all to make the Olympic team again to be able to represent Australia.

“I feel more ready than ever, Luge is such an experience-based sport and you know, having two Olympics under my belt, I'm finding it a lot easier to handle the pressure of racing and just enjoy every moment.

“With travel restrictions in 2020, I was at home and missed the whole season. It was difficult to begin with, I just committed to doing everything I could back home. I spent a lot of time working on mental health, worked out some niggling injuries, so going into this season, I’ve been feeling mentally fresh, and the body is feeling better than better than it ever has before.”

Although only 26 himself, Ferlazzo said he is so excited about what competing at Beijing could mean for future winter athletes, whether from traditional winter training grounds or North Queensland.

“For kids watching the Games in February, if the opportunity comes your way you have got to grab it. The time I've had throughout the sport has been incredible, sliding on some awesome tracks and learning something each week.

“The feeling of Luge is amazing - this morning, I hit my top speed ever of 143 km/h and it just feels like you're floating. You're so dialled in and focused, you're just flowing with the track and it's a beautiful feeling.”

Narracott said her recent World Cup results have given her the perfect lead in to Beijing.

“Becoming a two-time skeleton Olympian is fantastic, it’s unreal,” Narracott said.

“Winning St Moritz last weekend was an absolute dream come true. I managed to finally put all the lessons I've been learning over the past 10 years into two great runs in the same race.

“To cross the finish line and then see the number one [next to my name] was just pure excitement. I've always dreamed and hoped that I would be the first Aussie to win a skeleton World Cup, but to actually do it is really cool.

“It's given me concrete proof that I can compete and win this level. I've always believed that it was in me – now I know.

“We get to race faster than we can legally drive cars. On a good run it just feels like you’re flying, it’s so fun and free and fast. I can’t wait to do it again in Beijing.”

The skeleton racers have family connections in winter sport, with Jackie’s uncle Paul Narracott the first Australian to compete at both a Summer and Winter Games, in Athletics at Los Angeles 1984 and Bobsleigh at Albertville 1992, while Nick Timming’s twin brother Dean competes for Australia alongside him on the international circuit.

Olympic debutant Timmings said today’s selection is even sweeter given the challenges each athlete has faced over this quad.

“It's a dream come true to go to my first Olympics, I’m over the moon,” Timmings said. “I can't wait to get out there and see what we can do in Beijing.”

“Every Olympic athlete would have had a four-year plan that was completely thrown out the window after the year two. For me, last year was a big struggle to get away and compete. But I bit the bullet, and took a risk to get away to better myself and improve so I could get in that position this year where I could really attack that qualifying spot.

“The speed and the adrenaline of skeleton is like nothing else. I got to 141 km/h in on the Whistler track this year, when you’re having a good run, you can feel time slowing down, like the corners are coming at you slower. You literally feel like you're flying.”

“This sport does get lonely sometimes when you're traveling the world by itself, so when Dean and I have been together it’s been a big help. Only qualifying one spot on the male side was a shame, but no matter who it was to qualify, we knew we were each going to be happy for the other person.”

Luge Australia President and dual Olympian Hannah Campbell-Pegg congratulated Alex on his history-making selection.

“Luge Australia is so proud of Alex and all that he has achieved,” Ms Campbell-Pegg said. “To qualify for three Winter Olympic Games when you originate from Australia is an amazing feat in itself.”

“He's shown nothing but grit and determination over the years in order to achieve what he has and developed into the best Luge athlete Australia has ever seen. He is an astounding ambassador for sliding sports and we are delighted to have him represent Australia again at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.”

Bobsleigh Skeleton Australia CEO and 2018 Bobsleigh Olympian Hayden Smith said today’s selection was reflective of years of dedication.

“A massive congratulations to Nick and Jackie on being selected to the Australian Olympic Team today, it’s a great outcome after more than a decade each in the sport,” Mr Smith said.

“Jackie and Nick have shown their strength of character, navigating what has been a really challenging qualification process and delivering impressive results on the ice.

“They’re such impressive athletes and people and I look forward to Australians cheering on Jackie and Nick when they hit the ice in Beijing.”

The Luge competition will run from 5-10 February and Skeleton 10-12 February at the Yanqing Sliding Centre.

Share your 'Good Luck' message in support of the Team. Record a video or take a picture and submit it here or post on social media including the tags #ChasingWinter and @AUSOlympicTeam