SWIMMERS PLAY PART IN BEST BRITISH RESULT
Team GB claimed its best ever result at the European Youth
Olympic Festival in Belgrade thanks to a 14-strong medal haul
from Britain's swimming squad.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) team, which comprised
64 athletes from swimming, cycling, athletics, judo, gymnastics,
table tennis and tennis finished second in the medal table
behind the Russian Federation with nine gold, seven silver
and seven bronze medals.
And 14 of the 23 medals were won by a 16-strong swim squad
that collected six gold, three silver and five bronze.
Aimee Willmott claimed the most medals for Team GB with an
impressive personal haul of two gold, a silver and a bronze.
The versatile 14-year-old Middlesborough swimmer was named
Individual Medley Champion in the 200m and 400m events, adding
silver in the 400m Freestyle and bronze in the 200m Backstroke.
Roberto Pavoni of Brentwood was top British male of the meet,
also taking championship titles in the 200m and 400m Individual
Medley.
Jessica Thielmann (City of Newcastle) and Sophie Ward (Gallica)
completed the set of six gold with victories in the 800m Freestyle
and 200m Butterfly respectively. Ward added silver in the
4x100m Freestyle alongside team mates Lucy Ellis (Dunfermline),
Emma Graham (City of Leeds) and Stephanie King (Bexley) and
bronze in the 100m Butterfly to her individual tally.
Director of World Class Programmes John Atkinson was impressed
by the team's efforts in Belgrade and believes their achievements
will stand them in good stead for the future.
"The British swimmers performed exceptionally well this
year," he said. "They had a tough act to follow
after our best ever results in 2005, but they surpassed expectations
with 12 of the 16 athletes bringing home medals. To win three
gold medals on the final night is a credit to the professionalism
of both the staff and swimmers.
"Britain has now won more medals than any other nation
over the last four Championships. Since 2001 we have won 61
medals, which is four more than Russia and six more than Italy
and shows Britain has given consistent performances.
"Previous medallists at this event include David Davies,
Kate Haywood and Liam Tancock. We must now make sure this
year's swimmers can move through the system and are on track
for 2012."
Britain's swimming medallists are as follows:
Gold Medals
Roberto Pavoni, 200m Individual Medley, 2:06.96 PB
Roberto Pavoni, 400m Individual Medley, 4:28.19
Jessica Thielmann, 800m Freestyle, 8:53.48
Sophie Ward, 200m Butterfly 2:17.43
Aimee Willmott, 200m Individual Medley, 2:19.37 PB
Aimee Willmott, 400m Individual Medley, 4:50.32
Silver Medals
Sara Lougher, 100m Breaststroke, 1:13.47
Aimee Wilmott, 400m Freestyle, 4:21.40 PB
Girls 4 x100m Freestyle (Lucy Ellis, Emma Graham, Sophie Ward,
Stephanie King) 3:55.89
Bronze Medals
Sophie Ward, 100m Butterfly, 1:02.56
Aimee Wilmott , 200m Backstroke, 2:18.92
Karl Botha, 100m Butterfly, 56.50 PB
Lucy Ellis, 200m Freestyle, 2.06.55
Boys 4x100m Medley (Karl Botha, Adam John, Thomas Parris,
Douglas Scott) 3:51.66.
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