The British Olympic Association (BOA) announced today that double Olympic sailing gold medallist Sarah Gosling (nee Webb) has been appointed Chef de Mission for Team GB for the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
From 14-19 July, Gosling will head up Team GB’s delegation, which will consist of approximately 45 athletes competing across the five sports of cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming and tennis. Athletes, who have to be under the age of 18, will be competing against some of the best participants from their age group from approximately 48 countries.
Gosling was part of the gold medal winning team, affectionately named ‘Three Blondes in a Boat’, which triumphed in the Yngling sailing class at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. She won gold again four years later at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games together with Pippa Wilson and her crewmate from Athens Sarah Ayton.
Gosling started sailing an Optimist at the age of six and represented the UK twice at the Youth World Championships in the single handed Laser Radial. Alongside her successful sporting career, Gosling was part of a team managing the outsourced services for BP with responsibilities for the contract management for two years.
Commented Team GB Chef de Mission Sarah Gosling:
“It is such a privilege to be asked to manage Team GB and I am proud to get the chance to play a role. I hope that for the athletes taking part in the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival this will be their first small Olympic step and a giant leap to becoming the next generation of sporting heroes.
“I am really looking forward to making sure that some of the most talented athletes Team GB has to offer in this age group are inspired to perform to the best of their ability at the European Youth Olympic Festival this summer.”
Said BOA Chairman Lord Seb Coe:
“One of the aims of the British Olympic Association is to make sure that athletes, in particular athletes who have recently concluded their competitive career, have more opportunities to get involved with Team GB. I am therefore extremely pleased that Sarah Gosling has agreed to be Chef de Mission for Team GB at the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival. This role will give Sarah the chance to experience managing Team GB at an international Olympic event.
“Sarah has first-hand knowledge of the international, multi-sport environment this team of around 45 young athletes will experience on and off the field of play, and I am certain that having a double Olympic sailing gold medallist heading up Team GB will give the athletes an added inspirational boost.”