Features

British badminton pair Chris Adcock and Gabrielle White are hopeful of success at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival after being given a helping hand by their Olympic idols.

Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, who won silver in the mixed doubles at Athens 2004, joined Adcock and White on December 23 as they stepped up their preparations for the AYOF, which runs from January 17-21.

... read more

David Faulkner has experienced the thrill of winning an Olympic gold and is determined to give Great Britain's young hockey stars the same opportunity at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Faulkner was a member of the men's team that triumphed at Seoul 1988 and is now spearheading Team GB's bid to medal in 2012.

The 44-year-old is England’s Performance Director and as part of the fram... read more

Diving team leader Kim White accepts that all eyes will be on youngster Thomas Daley at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival but is keen to point out there are other potential medal winners in his team.

The 12-year-old Daley is the wonder boy of British diving having come second in the national trials for two years running and was granted special dispensation by the AOC to compete at t... read more

Like many of their team-mates preparing for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, Team GB's sailing squad has had plenty to adapt to in Sydney.

The squad consists of three men and three women, who will compete in a mixed-gender team competition.

They are all experienced in team racing in England but normally race in the 420 class rather than the Australian 'pacer' boats they must... read more

Team GB's canoeists knew they would face many new experiences during the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) but paddling through shark-infested waters was something not even their active young minds had anticipated.

That was the reality they faced on Sunday, when the six-strong flatwater canoe team stepped up their preparations with a 12km ocean race off the Sydney coast.

Rac... read more

Young Great Britain shooter Lee Campion is hoping to follow in the footsteps of some famous Olympians at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

The event is held in Sydney, using many of the venues built to host the 2000 summer Olympic Games, including the Sydney International Shooting Centre.

It is there that Richard Faulds won gold in the double trap in 2000 and Australian trap sh... read more

Steen Hansen knows his table tennis team face some tough opposition in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival but is confident his young players can compete.

Hansen took over as national Performance Director in August 2002 and has been appointed team leader for the AYOF, which runs from January 17-21.

The Dane, who has been a full-time coach since 1982 and has spent time with the n... read more

Great Britain under-23 coach Peter Sheppard is relishing the chance to work with the nation's most promising teenage rowers at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

Currently, some juniors may emerge from the under-18 ranks and then go a couple of years without major competition before being considered for under-23 squads.

However, the AYOF, which runs from January 17-21 in Sydney,... read more

Promising British shooter James Mansfield will not have to look far for inspiration at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

The 17-year-old's personal coach is Olympian Kevin Gill, who has travelled to Sydney as coach of Team GB's seven-strong shooting squad.

"Having such a good bond with him makes training easy," said Mansfield.

"Having him here means I don't have to adap... read more

Young British slalom canoeist Mark Proctor has come a long way in the last six months and is hoping to continue his rapid rise at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF).

The 18-year-old from Penkridge, Staffordshire, was disappointed with his performance at the Junior World Championships last July, failing to make the final in his C1 event.

But he certainly made a splash the f... read more