Born in Sydney, moved to France as a pre-schooler because her parents fancied "an adventure", stayed on as they liked the lifestyle, learned to ski in the Alps, won a place in the French junior ski team.
To that point Caitlin McFarlane's life had mirrored that of Zali Steggall, Australia's greatest alpine skier.
Now the federal Independent MP for Warringah, Steggall is Australia's only alpine skier to make the Olympic podium, winning bronze at the 1998 Nagano Games.
But while Steggall's parents returned to Australia when she was in her mid-teens, McFarlane's remained in France. Which is why the 23-year-old will suit up on the slopes for the French team at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games not the Australian one.
"I do have an Australian passport, but I was lucky enough to be a part of the French team since I was 15," McFarlane told AAP.
"I've been in this structure and surrounded by all these professionals for a long time now, so (the idea of skiing for Australia) has never really come up."
Australia's loss is France's gain as McFarlane is one of the up-and-coming talents. This is her second season on the World Cup circuit and she is currently ranked 25th in slalom which takes place on February 18.
"It's been really good," she said.
"It's been very exciting. I've made a big step. I'm starting in the top 30 and kind-of guaranteed a spot in the top 30 next year. It's getting to where I want to be.
"I'm definitely going there with the mindset to bring home a medal. But it is my first Games, so I'm also there to learn and to take in as much as I can from this experience."
McFarlane, who will also compete in the women's team combined slalom on February 10, has an accent that is more Home Counties English than Aussie twang, courtesy of her English mother.
But she's been back to Australia on holiday and says despite leaving as a toddler she has a sense of belonging.
"We moved when I was three," she said.
"It wasn't part of the plan staying in France, but my parents wanted to have an adventure so we went back to where my Dad used to work when he was a seasonaire in his 20s and we never left.
"We've been back to Australia to visit family but not much, sadly. The last time was in 2019, but if I had enough time I'd go back a lot more because I love it there, and I do feel, even though I wasn't there for very long, a sense of home. I feel good when I'm over there."
