Ellie Downie gets her campaign underway on day two of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games as she competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification. Downie made history earlier this year when she became the first British female to win a gymnastics all-around medal at a European Championships when she claimed bronze in the junior event in Sofia. Downie said: “Hopefully I can go out there and do my best and maybe make it to the final. Whether I can win a medal depends on what other people are out there and how well they are performing but I feel confident no matter what. “This will be the biggest competition I’ve been in so I think it’ll be a great experience for me and one that will help me to develop. Judoka Lulu Piovesana will be hoping to upgrade her bronze medal from the 2013 Cadet World Championships at the here in Nanjing. Piovesana competes in the -63kg division and has a first round match against Stefania Adelina Dobre from Romania.
Speaking ahead of her YOG debut Piovesana said: "I would like to do better than but to even get a medal in the Youth Olympic Games would be a big achievement.” Team GB’s swimmers are back in action in the pool. After qualifying joint first from her semi-final Georgina Evans will swim in the 50m Breaststroke Final whilst Jess Fullalove qualified in clear first for the 100m Backstroke Final in the evening session. GB are also contesting the100m Backstroke Final as Luke Greenback qualified fourth fastest from his semi-final. Charlotte Atkinson, Amelia Maughan, Duncan Scott and Martyn Walton will also be looking to book spots in their respective evening finals when they compete in heats tomorrow morning. After finishing second and fourth respectively in their heats this morning rowers Chris Lawrie and Anna Thornton return to the Xuanwu Lake to compete in the single sculls repechages. Across the Xuanwu Lake at the triathlon venue Ben Dijkstra will be in action competing in the men’s individual event. Like teammate Sian Rainsley, Dijkstra will tackle the sprint distance course (750m swim, a 20km bike, and a 5km run). After winning the European qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games earlier this year Dijkstra challenging for a spot on the podium. Qualification also gets underway for GB’s sole sailor Hanna Brant as she races in the women's byte class single dinghy at the Jinniu Lake Sailing Venue. Brant said: “To go and represent Team GB at the Youth Olympics is just incredible and I’m so excited. “This will be the biggest event I have ever been to and the whole atmosphere is going to me amazing.
Team GB in Action on Day 2 Gymnastics Women’s Qualification – Ellie Downie Qualifications -11.00 – 13.00 local time/ 04.00 – 06.00 UK time Judo Women’s 63kg – Lulu Piovesana Qualifications - 13.00 – 16.00 local time/ 06.00 – 09.00 UK time Finals - 18:00-19:30 local time/ 11.00 – 12.30 UK time Rowing Men’s and Women’s Single Sculls - Anna Thornton and Chris Lawrie Repechage -10.10 – 10.50 local time/ 03.10 – 03.50 UK time Sailing Hanna Bryant - Women's Byte Class Single Dinghy Qualification Races - 11.00-17.00 local time/ 04.00-10.00 UK time Swimming Charlotte Atkinson, Georgina Evans, Jessica Fullalove, Luke Greenbank, Amelia Maughan, Duncan Scott and Martyn Walton Heats 10.00 – 11.17 Local time/ 03.00 – 04.17 UK time Semi Finals/Finals - 18.00 – 19.13 Local time/ 11.00 – 12.13 UK time Triathlon Men’s Individual - Ben Dijkstra 09.00 – 10.00 local time/ 02.00 – 03.00 UK time