Simmonds, aged 31, will lead a team of aspiring Olympians into competition in the Slovakian city from 24-30 July 2022.

The appointment sees Simmonds complete her own EYOF journey having previously competed in the 2005 edition in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, before going on to represent Team GB at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Simmonds, who is the Chair of the BOA’s Athletes’ Commission, said: “I am incredibly excited and honoured to have been appointed as Team GB’s Chef de Mission for Banská Bystrica 2022.

“A European Youth Olympic Festival is often an athlete’s first multi-sport experience, and learning how to thrive in this unique environment is a hugely important stepping-stone to future success at a senior Games.

“Having started my own journey with Team GB at an EYOF, it is a great privilege to have come full circle and now have the opportunity to help prepare our next generation of Olympians.”

The British Olympic Association’s CEO, Andy Anson, added: “Lizzie will be an inspirational leader for our young athletes attending the Festival. Multi-sport experiences are unique and few-and-far-between for young athletes, so this is an exciting opportunity for those selected.”

With 10 sports on the programme, Team GB will take part in the summer EYOF for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began, having last competed in Baku 2019.

The sports include: Artistic Gymnastics; Athletics; Badminton; Basketball; Cycling; Handball; Judo; Swimming; Tennis and Volleyball.

With thanks to Team GB

Mutavdzic was guaranteed at least silver having won her girls’ singles semi-final yesterday and made light work of her big-hitting Russian opponent today, out-thinking and out-manoeuvring Maria Sholokhova to win 6-1 6-1 in just over an hour.

It was then the turn of the gymnasts as all-around silver medallist Achampong sealed gold on beam with a flawless routine to score 13.666 before Baptiste watched five gymnasts try and fail to topple his vault score of 13.983. Achampong was later named Team GB’s Closing Ceremony Flagbearer after a vote by her fellow athletes.

Halle Hilton just missed out on joining Achampong on the podium, finishing the beam final in fourth with 12.900, just 0.1 of bronze, while Sam Mostowfi was fifth in the vault alongside Baptiste scoring 13.433.

The triple gold today means Team GB end Baku 2019 with 25 medals; 11 gold, 12 silver and two bronze, and leapfrog Turkey and hosts Azerbaijan into second place on the medal table behind Russia despite only competing in six of the 10 sports.

Four of the six sports return to the UK with medals, with swimming the most successful with 18 (six gold, 11 silver and one bronze), gymnastics finishing with four (two gold, one silver and a bronze), a double gold for cyclist Zoe Backstedt and Mutavdzic’s tennis gold.

Mutavdzic said: “It was exhilarating at the end there and I was so happy. It all came together at the right time.

“I was trying not to be nervous out there. I know it’s difficult but I focused on my own game and hoped for the best.

“I believed in myself from the first point but I think the turning point was when I broke for 4-1 in the first. She called for a medical and I knew then that she was looking for a way to break the rhythm and I was then able to stay calm and not let it affect my performance.”

Baptiste said: “This is the biggest competition that I’ve done so it’s been a hard week. I’ve never competed at this international level before so I’m so happy I’ve got this medal and I’m not going home empty handed.  I really put in the hard work and effort in the lead up to this event this year so I’m really happy it’s all paid off.”

Achampong said: “It feels amazing to win gold.  I knew that I had a chance of doing well after qualifying in first so I was quite nervous.”

Team GB Medallists at Baku 2019

Gold: 11

• Cycling: Zoe Backstedt Girls’ Time Trial
• Cycling: Zoe Backstedt Girls’ Road Race
• Gymnastics: Ondine Achampong Girls’ Balance Beam
• Gymnastics: Raekwon Baptiste Boys’ Vault
• Swimming: Katie Shanahan Girls’ 400m Individual Medley
• Swimming: Katie Shanahan Girls’ 200m Backstroke
• Swimming: Jacob Whittle, Ed Mildred, Tamryn van Selm Evelyn Davis 4x100m Mixed Freestyle
• Swimming: Ed Mildred, Nick Skelton, Mark Ford, Jacob Whittle Boys’ 4x100m Freestyle
• Swimming: Ed Mildred Boys’ 200m Freestyle
• Swimming: Katie Shanahan Girls’ 200m Individual Medley
• Tennis: Matilda Mutavdzic Girls’ Singles

Silver: 12

• Gymnastics: Ondine Achampong Girls’ All-Around
• Swimming: Freya Colbert Girls’ 400m Freestyle
• Swimming: Tamryn van Selm Girls’ 100m Freestyle
• Swimming: Ed Mildred 200m Boys’ Butterfly
• Swimming: Jacob Whittle Boys’ 100m Freestyle
• Swimming: Evelyn Davis, Katie Shanahan, Freya Colbert, Tamryn van Selm Girls’ 4x100m Freestyle
• Swimming: Freya Colbert Girls’ 800m Freestyle
• Swimming: Katie Shanahan, Cameron Williams, Sophie Freeman, Jacob Whittle 4×100 Mixed Medley Relay
• Swimming: Freya Colbert Girls’ 800m Freestyle
• Swimming: Cameron Williams Boys’ 100m Breaststroke
• Swimming: Mark Ford, Cameron Williams, Ed Mildred, Jacob Whittle Boys’ 4x100m Medley
• Swimming: Katie Shanahan, Jemimah Berkeley, Sophie Freeman, Tamryn van Selm Girls’ 4x100m Medley

Bronze: 2

• Gymnastics: Ondine Achampong, Halle Hilton, Annie Young Girls’ Team
• Swimming: Sophie Freeman Girls’ 400m Butterfly

Courtesy of Team GB

The 15-year-old Glaswegian dominated the final from start to finish, ending with a time of 4:43.92, over six and a half seconds clear of the field, and a new European Youth Olympic record.

Shanahan’s night wasn’t over either as she eased into the final of the 200m backstroke in 2:14.03, winning her semi-final and qualifying second fastest for tomorrow’s final.

“I’m so happy to have won and to get that first medal for the team,” said Shanahan, who also won European Junior bronze in the same event earlier this month.

“I was really happy with my time and the way I executed the race. That record has stood for 18 years so to break it here is great.

“I’ve still got the 200 IM [individual medley] to come and I’m seeded for that and it’s probably my favourite event.

“I’ve raced a couple of these girls before at the European Juniors this year but most are new to me. It’s good to get some different competition but I’m happy overall with my swimming and being able to win here and get golds is even better.

“The whole squad is really enjoying it out here. The experience is amazing. We didn’t get to go to the Opening Ceremony last night as we were competing this morning so it’s a shame to miss out, but as a squad we’re swimming really well and hopefully the week will go well for us.”

With only two finals on the first day of action in the pool, qualification was the aim for the rest of the Team GB swimmers in the Baku Aquatics Centre.

Tamryn van Selm was fastest into her 100m freestyle final following a European Youth Olympic record of her own, recording a time of 55.77 in her heat, while Sophie Freeman qualified fastest for the 200m fly final.

Will Ellington was third quickest into the boys’ 200m breaststroke final and Mark Ford took the eighth and final place in the 100m backstroke final.

Over at the Baku Tennis Academy, Yujiro Onuma battled the heat and wind to move into the boys’ singles second round after a 6-3 7-5 victory over Ireland’s Arthur O’Sullivan, before teaming up with birthday boy Matt Rankin to win their doubles first round tie 6-1, 7-6 over the Belarussian pair.

“I had to battle quite hard today,” said Onuma, who celebrated his 15th birthday yesterday.

“It’s really hot out there so it was difficult to get used to early on. I won the key points at the right times and that was the difference today. Winning in straight sets is definitely a bonus given I’m playing singles and doubles at the same time.

“The guy [O’Sullivan] has quite a good serve on him but I returned well today and was able to neutralise that threat. I managed to put pressure on him throughout.

“Most of the top guys here I know well and have some good results against a few of them so hopefully I can go well.”

It wasn’t to be for the girls doubles pairing of Andrea Pineda and Matilda Mutavdzic however as they went down 6-4, 6-3 to Romania.

Courtesy of Team GB

Keen, a four-time British champion at cadet (under 18) and pre-cadet (under 15) level, will carry the Union Flag into the Baku Crystal Hall tomorrow as the 15th edition of the EYOF formally gets underway.

The team of 44 British athletes will begin their competition tomorrow morning however with wrestler Harvey Ridings having the honour of being the first Team GB athlete in action.

Baku 2019 will see around 2,700 athletes from 48 European nations come together to compete across 10 Olympic sports from 21st-27th July.

Team GB are set to compete across six of those sports during the seven days of action with Keen’s judo squad joined by cycling, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and wrestling to make up the athlete delegation in Azerbaijan.

Bath-based Keen will have to wait until Thursday to compete in the 8,000 capacity Heydar Aliyev Arena though but the -52kg judoka is looking forward to her first duty at tomorrow’s Opening Ceremony.

“It’s a massive honour to be selected and I’m really proud to be Flagbearer,” said the 17-year-old.

“It’s a really good way to start the Festival. I wouldn’t say I’m a natural leader but I Iove teamwork and hopefully I can bring us all together tomorrow as one team.

“So far this has been such a different competition to what I’m used to in the past. We saw the judo venue today and it’s huge, I was quite taken aback actually.

“Being in the village has been good fun and it’s nice to mix with the other sports. All the girls are on one floor in a big communal area so it’s been nice to chat to them and learn about their sports.

“I’ve got a bit of a wait until I compete but that’s no bad thing as I’ll get to support my teammates and get used to the atmosphere before I go on Thursday. I’ll be nervous but looking forward to it”.

Elaine Skilton, Team GB’s Chef de Mission for Baku 2019, announced Keen as Flagbearer in front of the whole delegation at a team reception hosted by the British Ambassador.

Skilton said: “Getting to lead out your country into an Opening Ceremony at an Olympic event is a once in a lifetime experience and Tatum should rightly feel incredibly proud to have been selected. She follows in the footsteps of some great athletes, not least fellow judoka Sally Conway at the European Games last month.

“The team have settled into the Athletes’ Village really well over the past couple of days and we hope being one of the first countries into the environment gives us an edge ahead of the first day of competition. All sports have now trained and are looking forward to getting their respective events underway.

“The venues and set up here is one of the best we’ve seen at a Youth Olympic Festival and the whole Games will no doubt give these young athletes an incredible experience.”