Gymnast Tyesha Mattis is determined to continue her 2013 gold rush and claim another international title when she takes part in the European Youth Olympic Festival next week.
The 14-year-old has been chosen as part of a 44-strong British team that headed to Utrecht on Friday to compete against more than 2300 athletes from 48 other countries.
Mattis has already tasted success on the international stage this year becoming all-around and vault champion at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in January among a haul of five medals.
She also claimed uneven bars and floor bronze and silver in the team event Down Under and is eyeing further success in the Netherlands with the future in mind.
“It would be really good if I could win the competition, it would give me a boost in my dream to go to the next Olympics in Rio in 2016,” said Mattis.
“My goal is to go to the Olympics. I’m a bit nervous about the Festival but I am looking forward to it. I’m very excited.
“It’s not the first time I have represented Great Britain. I went to the Czech Republic in October for a competition and then winning in Australia was such a great feeling.
“I’m also the women’s junior all-around British Champion and recently became the first British gymnast to land the double double on floor.
“It’s a double twisting double back somersault and I did it at a competition in Ipswich against Brazil. Gymnastics is what I want to do, it’s what I want as a career.”
Mattis doesn’t have to look too far to know that she is heading in the right direction with fellow British gymnast Sam Oldham going from the Festival podium to Olympic success.
Oldham won bronze as part of Britain’s men’s team at London 2012 last summer and talented teenager Mattis has been doing all she can to reach top form for the Festival.
“I’ve trained hard for the Festival, I have done 26 hours a week,” added Mattis. “Although I compete in the all-around events, the bars are my favourite.”
© Sportsbeat 2013