The British Olympic Association has today announced the 50 athletes selected to represent Team GB at the Győr 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).
The Festival will see around 3,000 athletes from 50 European nations come together to compete across 10 Olympic sports from 23rd-29th July.
Team GB’s athletes, who will all be aged 14-17 at the event, will compete in six of those; canoe sprint (six athletes), cycling (six), gymnastics (six), judo (12), swimming (16) and tennis (four). Athletics, basketball, handball and volleyball complete the sporting programme in Hungary.
With many athletes already working on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, EYOFs play an important role in the development of young British athletes, helping them along the route to achieving their own Olympic dreams.
Team GB has a rich history of medal success at EYOFs, having won at least 20 medals in each of the previous 13 summer Festivals.
They provide crucial multi-sport event experience for young athletes, with over 50 athletes graduating from a summer EYOF with Team GB going on to compete at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 or Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The likes of Becky Adlington, Pete Kennaugh, Sally Conway and Nile Wilson all had their first taste of an Olympic-style event at an EYOF before winning an Olympic medal at senior level.
Team GB at Győr 2017
Canoeing
Alex Greaves, 15, from Warwick, Warwickshire
Alix Aitchison, 16, from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Edward Nightingale 15, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Enya Dale, 16, from Oxford, Oxfordshire
Thomas Lambert, 15, from Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire
Zoe Clark, 16 years old, from Surbiton, London
Cycling
Alfie George 16, from Abernyte, Scotland
Amelia Sharpe, 15, from Douglas, Isle of Man
Ella Barnwell, 16, from Carmarthen, Wales
Elynor Backstedt, 15 from Pontyclun, Wales
Lewis Askey, 16, from Cannock, Staffordshire
Sam Watson, 15, from Leeds, West Yorkshire
Gymnastics
Amelie Morgan, 14, from Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire
Jake Jarman, 15, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Jamie Lewis, 16, from Woking, Surrey
Pavel Karnejenko, 17, from Hamilton, Scotland
Taeja James, 14, from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Zoe Simmons, 14, from Radstock, Somerset
Judo
Aaron Miller, 17, from Wishaw, Scotland
Amy Platten, 16, from St Albans, Hertfordshire
Archie Platt, 16, from Woking, Surrey
Charlie Young, 15, from Alfreton, Derbyshire
Daniel Rabbitt, 17, from Newport, Wales
Holly Jones, 16, from Abergele, Wales
Imogen Walls, 16, from Melrose, Scotland
Jasmine Hacker-Jones, 16, from Bridgend, Wales
Josie Steele, 16, from Inverness, Scotland
Oliver Park, 16, from Netherton, Scotland
Ryan Turnbull, 17, from Dunfermline, Scotland
Tomi Imrie, 16, from Livingston, Scotland
Swimming
Adam Metcalf, 15, from Ellesmere, Shropshire
Alicia Dingle, 15, from Walsall, West Midlands
Archie Goodburn, 15, from Edinburgh, Scotland
Ceara Barber, 15, from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire
Charlie Hutchison, 15, from Castle Douglas, Scotland
Charlotte Robinson, 13, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Kyle Booth, 15, from Barry, Wales
Mia Slevin, 14, from Derby, Derbyshire
Michaella Glenister, 15, from Loughborough, Leicestershire
Oliver Taverner, 16, from Watford, Hertfordshire
Pia Murray, 15, from Preston, Lancashire
Rachel Anderson, 15, from Winscombe, Somerset
Rebecca Clynes, 14, from Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sam Dailley, 16, from Plymouth, Devon
Samuel Osborne, 16, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
William Bell, 15, from Loughborough, Leicestershire
Tennis
Barney Fitzpatrick, 15, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Holly Staff, 14, from Manchester
Lillian Mould, 15, from Birmingham, Warwickshire
Toby Samuel, 14, from Ringwood, Dorset
Paul Ford, Team GB Chef de Mission at Győr 2017 said: “With just under a month to go until the start for Győr 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival, it’s great to officially welcome these 50 young athletes to Team GB. There’s a fantastic mix of sports in our delegation this year and some real pedigree among the athletes selected.
“Returning home from Győr with a haul of medals will be a great achievement for the team but the experience these athletes will get being part of a multi-sport event for the first time will be important and invaluable learning as they look to progress their sporting careers. We have seen a number of our senior Olympians go on to do great things after being selected for an EYOF and potentially some of the next generation of Team GB stars will be with us in Hungary.”
Thomas Lambert, canoeing, said: “It’s a special feeling to be selected to be part of Team GB and I’m very proud. I’ve only been canoeing for two years and joined through the sprint talent I.D. finder. I’m very determined and focused and that’s really helped me in that short period. Győr will be a fantastic experience and hopefully I can perform well and make GB proud.
Amelia Sharpe, cycling, said: “There’s nothing better than being able to ride for your country and being selected is a real privilege. The European Youth Olympic Festival is one of the top races at this age category so it will be good to test myself against some of the best from Europe. Racing will be a challenge but I’m looking forward to that and I know it will stand me in good stead for future events.”
Jamie Lewis, gymnastics, said: “I feel very honoured and grateful to be part of Team GB for the European Youth Olympic Festival as it is a big competition and it will help me with more upcoming events. It will feel amazing representing my country and competing whilst wearing the Olympic rings as it will motivate me even more to do my best.”
Archie Platt, judo, said: “To make it to such a high level at a young age is personally a very proud moment and it feels great to have been selected. I’m looking forward to fighting for my country but also for the experience as a whole. As a kid you always dream of going to the Olympics and this is a real stepping-stone for that. It will also be really interesting to learn about the other sports and athletes, to learn how they train and how they’ve got to their level within their own sports.”
Michaella Glenister, swimming, said: “I’m so happy to have been selected. It was a huge shock when I found out and I’m so happy that I’ve put in all this effort and it’s been worth it. I’ve been away with teams before but never in multi-sport team at such a big event so I’m really looking forward to the whole experience.”
Holly Staff, tennis, said: “I’m feeling really excited and grateful for the opportunity to play for my country. I think it will be a really good experience for me going forward with my tennis career. I personally just want to give my 100% effort and know that I gave it my all because I want to represent my country in the best possible way. I’m also really looking forward to meeting all of the athletes and to be part of Team GB.”
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