Team GB’s female artistic gymnasts secured four individual final places on day three of the Győr 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival.
The trio of Taeja James, Amelie Morgan and Zoe Simmons finished fifth in the team event as slips on key apparatus cost them the chance of a medal as Russia took the gold with Italy and Germany completing the podium.
However, strong individual showings from Simmons and Morgan will see them compete in tomorrow’s all-around final, while the latter will also compete in the beam and floor finals later this week.
An upbeat Morgan was pleased to finally get going at Győr 2017: “I thought we did well today and we should be really happy with our results,” said the 14-year-old. “We had a few mistakes but we did the best we could and are pleased.
“I’ve never done anything this big before and for this length of time. I’ve done a few international events before but nothing like this.
“Competing today was definitely a highlight – the atmosphere and level of competition were amazing and it was great to be a part of that. I gain experience at every competition I do but with this being the biggest I felt I’ve learnt a lot which will help me in the future. I now know that even on the bigger stages I can still perform and do well.”
Over in the pool both Mia Slevin and Kyle Booth recorded top six finishes in their finals as Russia continue to dominate in the water.
Slevin came home in sixth in the 200m backstroke final before Booth went one better in the 200m breaststroke final.
“It was an amazing race,” said the 15-year-old Welsh swimmer Booth. “I saw some of my opponents go out very fast in the first hundred so I knew I had to push the third fifty to get back into the race and push it all the way to the touch.
“I have learned so much from this race and the experience at this Festival as a whole. Knowing that I can go out a bit faster and that I can hold it is something that I certainly want to put in to practice the next time I race at a big competition like this.
“With only the relay left I hope we can make the final in that and to get a podium position would be the perfect way to end an incredible week.
“The whole week has been a priceless experience. I’ve never been part of something so advanced in terms of organisation and the competition in the pool too, it’s something we’ve all wanted to make the most of.”
Jasmine Hacker-Jones (-52kg) led the British charge in the judo hall, falling just short of a chance to fight for bronze after defeat in her repechage final to Hungary’s Szofi Ozbas having earlier dominated two fights as she pushed for a medal.
Both Archie Platt (-66kg) and Oliver Park (-60kg) fell just short of the repechage final, losing to Duniel Nuriev of Estonia and Russia’s Khetag Basaev respectively, while there was a first round defeat for Imogen Walls in the -48kg event.
Following his repechage defeat, Platt said: “I’m reasonably happy with how it went. I was pleased to beat the fourth seed [Adrian Sulca of Romania], especially as it went so far into golden score, I showed good composure and technique. I was also pleased with my mental ability, especially when I felt I had thrown him but wasn’t awarded the point I kept focused to win. I just didn’t show that level of consistency throughout the day.
“I think with the success of the guys yesterday there was certainly a bit of pressure but I was also excited to get started and try and carry on the success for Team GB, as it’s really motivating personally when you’re surrounded by people achieving high results for this country.”
British hopes in the tennis singles ended this morning after Lilly Mould and Toby Samuel both lost second round matches, leaving the doubles pairings as the final Team GB hopes as rain delayed their second round matches.
Mould went down fighting to Mina Hodzic of Germany 6-1 3-6 6-3 before Samuel came up against the 12th seed Romanian Mihai Papoe, eventually losing 6-3 6-3.
“It’s obviously really disappointing to lose,” said Mould. I didn’t get off to the best of starts but did well to get back in it in the second set. I definitely had my chances in the third set but I think she just played better on the bigger points.”
Over at the canoe sprint, the 500m events drew to a close with Alex Greaves and Ed Nightingale finishing third in their K2 B Final. Earlier in the day the K4 of Enya Dale, Zoe Clark, Greaves and Nightingale missed out on a spot in the final with a close third in their semi-final following another third place semi-final finish for the C2 pairing of Alix Aitchison and Thomas Lambert.
Alix Aitchison said: “We haven’t raced together too much before this week so I’m happy with how the semi went. In any other event we would have been into a the A final in the ninth lane so it’s a shame to miss out today but we can be pleased with the efforts and look forward to the 200m on Friday.”
Day Three Results:
Canoe Sprint
Men’s K2 500m Semi-Final: Alex Greaves & Ed Nightingale 3rd (1:49.97)
Mixed C2 500m Semi-Final: Alix Aitchison & Thomas Lambert 3rd (2:22.23)
Mixed K4 500m Semi-Final: Enya Dale, Zoe Clark, Alex Greaves & Ed Nightingale 3rd (1:45.77)
Men’s K2 500m B Final: Alex Greaves & Ed Nightingale 3rd (1:41.80)
Gymnastics
Women’s Team Event: Amelie Morgan, Taeja James & Zoe Simmons 5th (103.150)
Judo:
Women’s -52kg: Jasmin Hacker-Jones 7th
Swimming
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Preliminaries: Rebecca Clynes 17th (1:13.67),
Women’s 200m Backstroke Preliminaries: Mia Slevin 5th (2:17.93), Ceara Barber 15th (2:20.40)
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Preliminaries: Archie Goodburn 7th (2:07.30), Charlie Hutchison 14th (2:07.97)
Women’s 400m Freestyle Preliminaries: Michaella Glenister 12th (4:25.23), Rachel Anderson 18th (4:27.68)
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Preliminaries: Kyle Booth 2nd (2:18.26), Oliver Taverner 21st (2:27.59)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley Preliminaries: Michaella Glenister 28th (2:25.65), Rebecca Clynes 33rd (2:27.31)
Women’s 200m Backstroke Final: Mia Slevin 6th (2:18.27)
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final: Kyle Booth 5th (2:18.18)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Semi- Final: Rebecca Clynes 6th (1:12.89)
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final: Archie Goodburn 7th (2:07:16)
Tennis
Women’s singles: Lilly Mould lost 1-6 6-3 3-6 to Mina Hodzic (Germany)
Men’s singles: Toby Samuel lost 3-6 3-6 to Mihai Papoe (Romania
Day Four: Schedule
Artistic Gymnastics: Men’s All-Around Final 12:00-14:30 (Jake Jarman, Jamie Lewis), Women’s All-Around Final 16:00-18:30 (Zoe Simmons, Amelie Morgan)
Cycling: Women’s Road Race 11:00-14:00 (Elynor Backstedt, Ella Barnwell, Amelia Sharpe), Men’s Road Race 16:00-19:00 (Sam Watson, Alfie George, Lewis Askey)
Judo: Women’s -57kg (Josie Steele), -63kg (Holly Jones), Men’s -73kg (Ryan Turnbull), -81kg (Aaron Miller)
Swimming: Heats 09:00-10:30, Finals 17:00-20:00 (Adam Metcalf, Alicia Dingle, Archie Goodburn, Ceara Barber, Charlie Hutchison, Charlotte Robinson, Kyle Booth, Mia Slevin, Michaella Glenister, Oliver Taverner, Pia Murray, Rachel Anderson, Rebecca Clynes, Sam Dailley, Samuel Osborne, William Bell)
Tennis: Men’s Doubles Second Round (Barney Fitzpatrick & Toby Samuel), Women’s Doubles Second Round (Lilly Mould & Holly Staff)
Report courtesy of Team GB
