It was another fantastic day for Team GB in Trabzon winning ten medals - five gold, three silver and two bronze - on the final day of the European Youth Olympic Festival. GB gymnasts won four medals on the final day of competition. Frank Baines (Liverpool) claimed gold on the parallel bars and silver on the floor.
Courtney Tulloch (Maidstone) added to the gold and silver he won earlier this a further gold medal on the rings.
Gabrielle Jupp (Borehamwood) who placed seventh in yesterday’s all-around final bounced back today to win silver on the beam. "It went really great, I was so pleased with it because it is the last day of competition and I am quite tired. "I wanted to do well, but getting a medal is totally unexpected. I didn't expect to get second and I knew I just had to go clean adn do my best. If that is enough for a medal then great."
Teammate Abigail Caig (Liverpool) placed eighth in the vault.
Thomas Holligan (Edinburgh) lead the way over at the athletics track where Team GB finished top of the athletics medal table. Holligan secured a new personal best and gold in the 200m, along with silver in the 4x100m relay with teammates Leon Reid (Avon), James Taylor (Stoke on Trent) and Clovis Asong (Manchester).
Holligan said; “To say I surprised myself is a bit of an understatement because while I was hoping for the gold I didn’t expect to go that fast. “I knew it was pretty close between me and the other three boys who finished fastest after the heats so I knew I was in with a shout. “I just thought if I held my form I could go past him so I did that and then I found myself just charging for the line as quickly as possible. “This is by far my best achievement in athletics to date and this will take some beating for sure – I am so happy right now.”
Elsewhere at athletics Jack Phipps (Leatherhead), who was ranked 13th coming into the festival, finished sixth after jumping a new personal best. Also, scoring themselves a new personal best was Huw Bevan (Wolverhampton) finishing fifth in the javelin.
Abigail Hetherington (Wigton) placed just outside of the medals finishing fourth in the 800m. Unfortunately, Dina Asher Smith (Orpington) was disqualified from the 200m after a false start. Jodie Myers (Wirral) was GB’s last judoka in action today, fighting in the +70kg category. Myers made it all the way to the bronze medal match before losing to a Turkish fighter. Speaking after her fight Myers said; “I’m quite tired, it was a tough day and it was so hot. It was a long long day.
“It was a close fight; I lost by two shida (two penalties). I didn’t get thrown, so I am quite happy with that result.
“I have found the whole experience amazing and I am really excited that I managed to qualify for the World Champs. I came here not knowing how I would fight and to know that I qualified I am just so proud of myself.”
GB swimmers continued to rule the pool winning a further two gold and two bronze medals. Nathan Theodoris (Loule) won gold in the 100m breastroke, and Matthew Johnson (Dewsbury) added to his own personal medal haul of six when he won gold in the 400 individual medley.
Bronze medals were won by Shauntelle Austin (Preston) in the 200m butterfly and Ellena Jones (Swansea) in the 800m freestyle.
Jones said;
“The 800m was OK and although I went into it thinking I could have won gold I am still really pleased to leave with another medal, no matter what colour.
“This European Youth Olympic Festival has just been an amazing experience and I have loved every minute of it and am sad to say goodbye to it all.
“I know for a fact that I will be better for the experience and I am so happy I came here and not only got a taste of what these types of events are like but also managed to win some medals.”
In the boys 100m backstroke Theodoris placed fourth and in the girls 100m breaststroke Jessie Foster (Trowbridge) finished second in the 'B' final.