The Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games will see the stars of tomorrow on show and Team GB will be taking 16 young athletes out to Norway for the Games next month.
From 12th-21st February, around 1,100 athletes - all aged between 15 and 18 years old - from 70 nations around the world are set to compete during the 10 days of winter action in Lillehammer.
In total, 70 medal events will be contested across 15 sport disciplines, including brand new events for Lillehammer 2016 such as monobob and cross-country cross free.
Team GB’s 16 athletes are set to compete in seven of these; alpine skiing, bobsleigh, curling, freestyle skiing, ice hockey skills challenge, luge and skeleton.
So… let’s meet the team!
Age: 17
Hometown: Chichester
Twitter: @yascooper
“It feels amazing to be selected and I still can’t quite believe it. Preparations have been going well with recent personal bests in slalom and giant slalom so I’m really looking forward to heading out there. My skiing is really coming on so it’ll be great to challenge myself in Lillehammer as well as getting the chance to meet the rest of the athletes from Team GB and the other sports.”
Hometown: Edinburgh
Twitter: @_iain_innes_
Three times Overall British Champion at U12, U14 and U16 level
Hometown: Newbury
Twitter: @chaffey_annabel
“Lillehammer is going to be an incredible experience and opportunity. It’s been something that I’ve been working towards for two years and this makes all the effort, tears and sweat in training worthwhile. I can’t wait to see what I can do out there. It’s obviously about the racing but the whole experience of the Games I’m sure will be something I never forget.”
Hometown: Chard
Twitter: @ADavey5
Qualified third in the world for Lillehammer 2016
Hometown:Taunton
Twitter: @GJohnston1998
Qualified number one in the world for Lillehammer 2016
Hometown: Exeter
Twitter: @KPnutsO_o
Qualified number one in the world for Lillehammer 2016
Hometown: Kelso
Twitter: @RIVER846321
Finished third in the 2014 Scottish Junior Finals
Hometown: Perth
Twitter: @C1um_K
“It feels amazing to have been selected and this is something I’ve wanted to do ever since watching the Winter Youth Olympic Games four years ago. To finally get selected it just brilliant and it’s definitely the highlight of my career so far. I’ve always looked up to Dave Murdoch and the curlers who won Olympic silver as part of Team GB in Sochi two years ago. It would be great to follow in their footsteps in Lillehammer.”
Hometown: Perth
Twitter: @milismithh_
2015 Asham U21 Slam winner
Hometown: Dumfries
Twitter: @Rossay98
Three-time winner of the U17 Scottish Tour and youngest skip to win the U17 and U21 titles
Age: 16
Hometown: Ashbourne
Twitter: @skisisters
“It’s really exciting to have been selected and for me it’s another step towards the Olympic Games. Competing at the Youth Olympic Games isn’t something you get to do every year and it will be an amazing experience. The main thing for me is to have fun and build my confidence. Preparations have gone well and it’s now about staying fit and heading into Lillehammer injury free.”
Age: 15
Hometown: Maidstone
Twitter: @madiirowlands
2013 British Slopestyle Champion and the youngest ever winner
Age: 17
Hometown: Glasgow
Twitter: @calsandiesonski
Seventh place at the 2014 World Junior Ski Slopestyle Championships
Hometown: Tunbridge Wells
“I first saw luge at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and it really inspired me to get into sliding sports. To get the chance to compete for my country at Lillehammer 2016 is amazing and I can’t wait to be a part of the Games. I’ll be looking to complete two clean runs and be pleased with my performance but I’m also looking forward to supporting the other British athletes and sports.”
Hometown: Munich
Twitter: @Pitterbread1
“I’m very honoured and excited to be part of Team GB for the first time. Lillehammer 2016 has been my main goal for the past four years and the qualification races went really well. It will be a strong field in Lillehammer but I’m going there to try and do my best and win a medal.”
Hometown: Twyford
“I’ve been working towards this moment for a long time and to finally know that I’m going to be part of Team GB for the Youth Olympic Games is a dream come true. It’s so exciting to think we’re only two weeks away from flying out there. The skills challenge is a tough event but preparations have been going really well and I’ll be looking to do the best that I can in Lillehammer next month.”
Want to know more about the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympics? Read out fact sheet
.