The British Olympic Association has today announced 16 swimmers selected to represent Team GB at the Győr 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).
The Festival will see a total of 50 British athletes compete alongside around 3,000 athletes from 50 European nations come together to compete across 10 Olympic sports from 23rd-29th July.
Team GB’s athletes, who will all be aged 14-17 at the event, will compete in six of those; canoe sprint (six athletes), cycling (six), gymnastics (six), judo (12), swimming (16) and tennis (four). Athletics, basketball, handball and volleyball complete the sporting programme in Hungary.
Michaella Glenister, swimming, said: “I’m so happy to have been selected. It was a huge shock when I found out and I’m so happy that I’ve put in all this effort and it’s been worth it. I’ve been away with teams before but never in multi-sport team at such a big event so I’m really looking forward to the whole experience.”
With many athletes already working on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, EYOFs play an important role in the development of young British athletes and help them along the route to achieving their own Olympic dreams.
Team GB has a rich history of medal success at EYOFs, having won at least 20 medals in each of the previous 13 summer Festivals.
They provide crucial multi-sport event experience for young athletes, with over 50 athletes graduating from a summer EYOF with Team GB going on to compete at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 or Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The likes of Becky Adlington, Pete Kennaugh, Sally Conway and Nile Wilson all had their first taste of an Olympic-style event at an EYOF before winning an Olympic medal at senior level.
Team GB at Győr 2017
Swimming
Adam Metcalf, 15, from Ellesmere, Shropshire
Alicia Dingle, 15, from Walsall, West Midlands
Archie Goodburn, 15, from Edinburgh, Scotland
Ceara Barber, 15, from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire
Charlie Hutchison, 15, from Castle Douglas, Scotland
Charlotte Robinson, 13, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Kyle Booth, 15, from Barry, Wales
Mia Slevin, 14, from Derby, Derbyshire
Michaella Glenister, 15, from Loughborough, Leicestershire
Oliver Taverner, 16, from Watford, Hertfordshire
Pia Murray, 15, from Preston, Lancashire
Rachel Anderson, 15, from Winscombe, Somerset
Rebecca Clynes, 14, from Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sam Dailley, 16, from Plymouth, Devon
Samuel Osborne, 16, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
William Bell, 15, from Loughborough, Leicestershire