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Participating in this Olympic Festival is a key component within the BOA's strategy to discover future Olympic champions, provide them with a multi-sport environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games and promote the Olympic ideals of fair play, honesty, and pride in representing and competing for Team GB.
Eight of our 2007 AYOF Olympians were selected to compete at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. They won two medals, a silver and a bronze.
Louis Smith – Gymnastics ‘Going to the 2007 Youth Olympic Festival in Australia was an amazing experience that gave me an opportunity to compete in a multi-sport event, mixing with similar aged athletes from around the world. It set me up for my World Championship medal later that year as well as helping me to prepare for Beijing in the summer of 2008. Sunshine in January is awesome and this event is essential for any young athlete that wants to get to the top.’
AYOF 2007 Won: Gold in the Men’s Pommel Horse Silver in the Men’s All Around Competition Bronze in the Men’s Artistic Team Competition Bronze in the Men’s High Bar
Beijing 2008 Won: Bronze in the Men’s Pommel Horse
Tom Lucy – Rowing “Being part of the 2007 AYOF team gave me a real sense of the Olympic occasion and what living in the Olympic Village would be like. It was also really useful in preparing for a much hotter environment than I was used to competing in which was particularly helpful when I qualified for Beijing. I really enjoyed being part of a greater team for the first time and overall the Youth Festival was a fantastic stepping stone”.
AYOF 2007 Won: Gold in the Men’s Pair Gold in the Men’s Coxless Four Silver in the Men’s Eight
Beijing 2008 Won: Silver in the Men’s Eight
Tom Daley – Diving “Being selected to represent Team GB at the AYOF gave me a real sense of competing in a multi-sport environment, it is a great opportunity to get a taste of the Olympics, from living in an Olympic Village, to competing in front of big crowds and having the HQ support network there to help you. Winning my youth medal inspired me to one day want to win an Olympic gold medal”.
AYOF 2007 Won: Silver in the Boys 10m Synchro Platform 4th in the Boys Individual Platform
Beijing 2008 Finished 7th in the Men’s 10m Individual Platform Finished 8th in the Men’s 10m Synchro Platform
Charlotte Craddock – Hockey 'My AYOF experience is one of my favourite sporting memories and I enjoyed every moment of it. The whole experience was very similar to Beijing and it definitely helped me. Everything from the kit to being in a 'village' is fantastic and very similar to what the real thing is like, so just enjoy!'
AYOF 2007 Won: Gold
Beijing 2008 Finished 6th
Aaron Cook – Taekwondo "Being part of Team GB at such an early age both helped and inspired me onto making Team GB for Beijing 2008. It was a huge experience for me at the 2007 Youth Olympic Festival; it's just like the Olympics, just on a smaller scale. You get to meet and befriend other athlete's from other sports, and you all become one big team. That also inspires you to perform better, which I'm sure you will all do in 2009.
I hope you all get the most you can from your experiences at the 2009 Youth Olympic Games, and it inspires you onto London 2012, where I hope to be part of Team GB again with you."
AYOF 2007 Won: Gold (Men’s 63-73kg)
Beijing 2008 Finished 4th
Ashley Jackson – Hockey “Being part of Team GB at the AYOF was a fantastic experience; from taking part in your event to meeting other athletes from different sports it’s all part of the experience and is something that I really treasure. The BOA staff make you feel as if all the hard training has paid off. Walking out at the Opening Ceremony behind the flag will do nothing but inspire you for the main event in 2012 in front of a home crowd, and trust me walking out in front of all those people at an Olympic Games as part of Team GB is something really worth striving for.”
AYOF 2007 Won: Silver
Beijing 2008 Finished 5th
Tonia Couch – Diving “When I went to the AYOF in 2007 I enjoyed travelling as a Team GB member, I felt like I was a step closer to Beijing 2008! Representing your country is always a privilege so you must enjoy every minute of it and I definitely did. I’m gutted I am too old to do the next AYOF because other than the Olympic Games the AYOF is definitely the next big event for younger athletes! So good luck to you all and enjoy every second of it! Keep working hard for the 2012 Olympic Games!”
AYOF 2007 Won: Bronze in the 10m Platform Synchro 4th: Girls Platform
Beijing 2008 Finished 8th in the 10m Platform
Daniel Keatings - Gymnastics "The AYOF was a very important competition for me as it was my first major competition after returning from a serious back injury, especially as I was not sure if I would ever compete again. It inspired me to battle through the bad times so I could enjoy the good times and the AYOF really was one of those good times. I enjoyed it so much that it made me even more determined to work towards my ultimate dream of competing in the Olympic Games. My dream came true and I was selected to represent Team GB in Beijing 2008, so keep working hard and battle through the tough times because the good times really are worth it".
AYOF 2007 Won: Silver in the Men’s Pommel Horse Silver in the Men’s Floor Bronze: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Competition 5th: Men's All Round Competition
Beijing 2008 Finished 20th in the Men’s All Round Competition