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Team GB’s Best Young Athletes Heading to Finland

Team GB puts the focus on youth with a total of 61 athletes heading off to represent Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Tampere, Finland from 18-25 July 2009, the British Olympic Association (BOA) today announced.

The 10th edition of the EYOF will see nearly 2500 athletes from 49 European nations competing in a total of nine sports: athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming, tennis, basketball, handball and volleyball. Participating athletes will be between 13 and 18 years old, depending on their sport.

At the 2007 EYOF, Great Britain finished third in the medal table with a superb haul of nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals. Team GB has been represented at every edition since it began. A total of 28 British athletes have represented Team GB at an EYOF and also gone on to compete at an Olympic Games. Most recently Hannah Whelan, who participated in the 2007 EYOF in gymnastics, went on to represent Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England said:

“It’s fantastic and a huge privilege to be taking a young and talented Team GB to the 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival. I’m confident that we will see some outstanding performances by the 61 athletes competing across the sports of athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming and tennis.

“The Olympic Festival gives us the chance to discover future Olympic Champions and offers a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to experience a multi-sport environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games. The Festival strives to provide a true Olympic experience to young competitors, and the Opening Ceremony incorporates the traditions of an Olympic Games with an athletes’ parade, athletes’ and officials’ oath, lighting of the Festival flame, and the raising of the Olympic Flag.”

Liam Clowes (Sandbach, Cheshire) selected for the men’s 100m and 200m in Athletics, said:

“If someone had told me a year ago that I would be in the position to represent Great Britain, I wouldn’t have believed them. I only took up the sport two years ago through school and they said I was really fast, so I was taken to the Cheshire Championships where I won both the 100m and 200m. I didn’t know much about the sport. I even thought 200m was a long-distance event!

“But earlier this year I heard that I had a chance of making the team for the European Youth Olympics and ever since then I’ve really stepped up a gear. It means the world to me to represent Great Britain. It really is like Christmas come early. I’ve dreamed of it and didn’t think I would achieve it. I’d really like to get to the finals and maybe get a medal. I’m just going out there to do my very best.”

Swimmer Sam Straughan (Maidenhead, Berks) commented:

“I am really excited at the moment about being selected for the European Youth Olympic Festival, but I am sure I will feel nervous as the event comes closer.

“This will be my first international competition and it is a real honour to represent my country. I am hoping to make a final during the competition. I think that would be a great.”

Lucas Rowe (Kettering, Northamptonshire) from judo, competing in the under 60kg class, said:

“I am very honoured to be selected to represent Team GB, as this will be most prestigious event I have ever represented Britain in. To go to a multi-sport event will give me experience that I hope to use during the rest of my judo career.

“I am feeling confident. Obviously anything can happen on the day, and everyone is competing to win, but if I perform to my potential I have a good a chance as anyone on the mat. I am working extremely hard to ensure I am fully prepared. My training is going well and I am looking forward to getting out there and competing against the best in Europe.”

The selected Team GB athletes are: