SWIMMERS SET FOR EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPICS
An elite squad of 16 young swimmers will compete as part
of a multi-sport Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival
(EYOF) where great British swimmers such as David Davies and
Liam Tancock first came to prominence years ago.
The swimmers have been selected to Team GB ranks by the British
Olympic Association (BOA) and will compete in Belgrade at
the Tasmajdan Sports Centre on 23, 24, 26 and 27 July.
The athletes, aged 13 to 17, achieved selection at the British
Championships in March, and will form part of a 63-strong
Team GB to compete across swimming, athletics, cycling, gymnastics,
judo, table tennis and tennis.
Swimming has a strong tradition as part of Team GB's EYOF
campaigns of the past with athletes such as 2004 Olympic swimming
bronze medallist Davies and 2006 Commonwealth Games swimming
gold medallist Tancock previously gracing the stage in 2001.
The EYOF will provide the young athletes with first-class
international competition as well as an ideal opportunity
for future Olympians to gain first-hand knowledge and experience
of a multi-sport event.
With the 2012 London Olympics just five years away many of
the squad of 16 will have real aspirations of competing there
and for many this will be their first real international test.
"These athletes have the talent and capability to be
some of the youngest British swimmers who will be there at
the Olympic games in 2012.They are the future of British Swimming,"
said British Swimming World Class Performance Director John
Atkinson.
"When we look back to 2001 we had the likes of David
Davies, Kate Haywood and Liam Tancock among the medalists
and we've seen what they've achieved collectively over the
past six years.
"We'll have swimmers in Belgrade who will make that
transition also and the Youth Olympics provides a unique opportunity
at a young age to experience a multi-sport event and work
with a great support team and coaching staff.
"We have five strong relay teams entered and this will
see the swimmers working closely together on the international
stage."
A total of 2,196 athletes from 48 countries will take part
in 11 sports between 21st and 28th July in the Serbian capital
of Belgrade.
Swimming takes place at the Tasmajdan Sports Centre
on 23, 24, 26 and 27 July.
Athletes selected by the BOA are:
Aimee Wilmott (Middlesbrough)
Emma Graham (City of Leeds)
Jessica Thielmann (City of Newcastle)
Lucy Ellis (Dunfermline)
Sara Lougher (Bridgend)
Sophie Ward (Gallica)
Stephanie King (Bexley)
Adam John (Plymouth Leander)
Adam Shaw (Bolton Metro)
Daniel Mills (Nova Centurion)
Douglas Scott (East Kilbride)
Karl Botha (Canterbury)
Richard Butler (Kingston upon Hull)
Roberto Pavoni (Brentwood)
Thomas Parris (Hastings Seaguls)
Valentin Kokorin (City of Newcastle)
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