GB SQUAD ARE BEST OF ALL TIME
Sixteen of Britain's brightest young swimming talents became
the most successful team ever at the European Youth Olympics
(long course) after a strong final day which boosted their
medal tally to 18 medals - 12 of them gold.
Britain's swimmers dominated the pool, hitting their targets
and aiding Team GB's Festival standings as they won three
gold, one silver and one bronze medal in this evening's finals.
On day four of the event in Lignano (Italy) Unwin picked
up her fourth medal of the meet in the 800m Freestyle. The
Hatfield swimmer built on the clear lead she'd established
by the 200m mark and finished more than ten seconds ahead
of the silver medallist with a time of 8:49.24 seconds.
Ellen Gandy (Beckenham) was next to strike gold, swimming
a solid back leg in the 200m Butterfly to take the title in
2:14.60 seconds.
Reinforcing the team ethics of this small, successful squad,
were the girls' 4x100m Medley team who stole the show in the
relay event with a new competition record.
Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans), Helena Thornton (Nova
Centurion), Gandy and Lauren Collins (City of Birmingham)
led from the start and extended their lead to finish almost
five seconds ahead of the field in a time of 4:18.88 seconds.
Guildford City's Marco Loughran collected his first medal
of the meet as he stole silver in the 100m Backstroke in 59.10
seconds and Nova Centurion's Jonathan Cook took his second
medal of the week after recording a time of 4:30.85 seconds
in the 400m Individual Medley.
"To have the best night at the end of a very long week
indicates that the swimmers arrived in great shape which is
a credit to their home coaches," said Head Coach Graham
Bassi.
"For many of the team this is their first international
experience and they must now go back to their home programmes,
maintain their skills and work on what they've learnt out
here."
Bassi praised the efforts of all the team members.
"This week has seen an outstanding team effort from
every member of the squad. They have experienced and dealt
with extreme highs as well as a few disappointments.
"This is the first step of what is hopefully a long
and successful international career for many of them.
"They way they've all bonded, become lateral thinkers
and taken on new ideas bodes well for the future of British
Swimming and is a real credit to them.
"Nick Juba, Ian Wilson and myself would like to congratulate
them all."
The 16-strong British Swimming team to attend the European
Youth Olympic Festival is as follows: Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln
Vulcans); Ellen Gandy (Beckenham); Ceri Unwin (Hatfield);
Helena Thornton (Nova Centurion); Lauren Collins (City of
Birmingham); Adam Brown (Hatfield); Jonathan Cook (Nova Centurion);
Michael Newell (Aquabears); Marco Loughran (Guildford City);
Steven Beckerleg (Plymouth Leander); Stuart Houston (Ren 96);
Chris Fox (Wolverhampton); Robert Matthews- Stroud (Wycombe
District); Chloe Hart (Beckenham); Max Partridge (City of
Sheffield); Grant Turner (Tigersharks).
The European Youth Olympic Festival takes place in Lignano,
Italy from 3-8 July. The swimming programme runs over four
days from 4-8 July with a rest day on 6 July and includes
the following events:
Freestyle 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m (G)/1500m (B),
Backstroke 100m, 200m,
Breaststroke 100m, 200m,
Butterfly 100m, 200m,
Individual medley 200m, 400m,
4x100m Medley relay
4 x 100m Freestyle relay
4 x 200m Mixed Freestyle relay (2 boys/2 girls)
British Medal Tally:
GOLD Ceri Unwin 400m Freestyle 4:16.48 Day 1
GOLD Ellen Gandy 100m Butterfly 1:02.60 Day 1
GOLD Simmonds, Gandy, Hart, Collins Girls' 4x100m Free 3:53.72
Day 1
GOLD (CR) Lizzie Simmonds 200m Backstroke 2:14.08 Day 2
GOLD (CR) Lizzie Simmonds 200m IM 2:18.72 Day 2
GOLD (CR) Lauren Collins 100 Freestyle 57.90 Day 2
GOLD (CR) Beckerlegg, Gandy, Brown, Unwin Mixed 4x200m Freestyle
7:59.68 Day 2
GOLD Lizzie Simmonds 100m Backstroke 1:02.74 Day 3
GOLD Ceri Unwin 200m Freestyle 2:05.17 Day 3
GOLD Ceri Unwin 800m Freestyle 8:49.24 Day 4
GOLD Ellen Gandy 200m Butterfly 2:14.60 Day 4
GOLD (CR) 4x100m Medley 4:22.54 Day 4
SILVER Jonathan Cook 200m IM 2:07.86 Day 1
SILVER Ceri Unwin 400m IM 4:57.42 Day 3
SILVER Marco Loughran 100m Backstroke 59.10 Day 4
BRONZE Helena Thornton 200m Breaststroke 2:36.14 Day 1
BRONZE Chris Fox 100m Breaststroke 1:04.69 Day 3
BRONZE Jonathan Cook 400m IM 4:30.85 Day 4
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