European Youth Olympic

EYOF 2011: Britain find their Knight in shining armour in the pool

Published

4 weeks ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

European Youth Olympic Festival 2011Rising Stars

By Ben Baker, in Trabzon

WHILE BRITAIN’S senior swimmers toil away in Shanghai, Team GB’s younger generation at the European Youth Olympic Festival are showing them how it’s done after claiming another four golds on day four in Turkey.

WHAT A KNIGHT: Teenage simming sensation Joel KNight set a new personal best in claiming the 1500m freestlye title in Turkey

This time it was Joel Knight’s time to shine as he took to Trabzon’s Mehmet Akif Swimming Complex for his sole event, the 1500m freestyle.

And after a long wait to show the rest of Europe what he is all about, the 15-year-old clearly had itchy feet as he romped to gold with a massive new personal best of 15:28.86 minutes, nearly ten seconds ahead of his nearest challenger in Turkey.

Knight insists he fully expected to climb the top step of the podium but admitted to shocking even himself in just how quickly he got there.

“I am a bit surprised with the result really, not with the gold but with a new personal best,” Knight said, who benefits from being on the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes Scheme.

“I was going for the win but the time was a surprise even to me, as was the gap to second because I had no idea I was going to go that fast.

“But I am pleased with the gold and it is what I came here for so it is job done in a massive way after that.

“It was a bit of a test of my mental power too because I since arriving in Trabzon I had to wait quite a long time until I could get out there and I was getting itchy feet.

“But I just tried to keep calm after the first day and get my head into gear that I was going to have to race and race well and I managed to do that and I am so pleased.”

Joining in on the gold rush in the pool were Matthew Johnson, winning his fifth medal of the competition with victory in the 200m butterfly, with a new personal best of 2:00.46 minutes to go along with it.

And the girls got in on the act too, Ellena Jones taking 400m medley gold, again with a new personal best, while Harriet Cooper picked up the 100m backstroke title after finishing fifth in the 50m freestlye just moments earlier.

But the gold medals weren’t just restricted to the pool as Courtney Tulloch reigned supreme in the gymnastics all-round boy’s event, taking the crown ahead of Romanian Daniel Petrica Vasile Radeanu.

And after overcoming his nerves in a big way, the 15-year-old was able to toast a job well done after having it pencilled in on his calendar for most of the year.

“It went really well, I’m so pleased and proud with winning the title,” said the Lloyds TSB Local Hero, who watched fellow Brit Frank Baines finish eighth.
“I was quite nervous about this event because it was the biggest one of the year and I really wanted to do well.

“But competing in the team event beforehand settled me down a bit and although I qualified in first place it made me a bit more nervous, but I was hoping to win and I’m really happy I did.”

The final medal on Thursday came from Jacob Paul on the track as he collected 400m hurdles silver, missing out on gold to Ireland’s Ben Kiely by just 0.11 seconds.

Elsewhere at Trabzon’s Sogutlu Athletics Stadium, Michael Painter finished sixth in the hammer final while Dina Asher-Smith and Huw Bevan qualified for their 200m and javelin finals respectively, Team GB’s boys 4x100m relay team following suit.

However, it was a difficult day for the cyclists, Jacob Scott the highest finishing Brit in the road race in 21st, while the judokas found the going tough with all four in action failing to contest for the medals.

Lloyds TSB, in partnership with SportsAid, is providing awards of £1,000 to 344 emerging athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Follow your Lloyds TSB Local Hero at: www.facebook.com/lloydstsblocalheroes

European Youth Olympic

EYOF 2011: Tulloch at it again in Turkey as competition comes to a close

Published

4 weeks ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

European Youth Olympic Festival 2011Rising Stars

By Ben Baker, in Trabzon

GYMNAST Courtney Tulloch brought the curtain down on Great Britain’s European Youth Olympic Festival in style as he stormed to another gold on the last day in Trabzon, Turkey.

NUMBER ONE: Gymnast Courtney Tulloch was given the flag for the closing ceremony after his two golds, including the prestigous all-around title

The 15-year-old, fresh from collecting the all-around trophy just 24 hours earlier, returned to the Yomra Gymnastics Hall for the rings final.

And he was clearly in the mood to revisit the top step of the podium once last time, scoring 14.350 points for victory despite having his shoulder strapped up after picking up an injury the day before.

This not only earned Tulloch his second gold of the week but also flag bearer duties for the closing ceremony, something he admits he could only have dreamt of before leaving for Turkey.

“My final day performance was alright, not the best but I’m happy with gold on the rings,” Tulloch said, who benefits from being on the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes Initiative.

“It has been an amazing week and to win the all-around trophy is great. I think everyone will know who I am now!

“The Russians are starting to know me and the Europeans too, and I’m going to be right up there going for the win in all competitions from now.
“I was a bit nervous carrying the flag, but I did my best and it was a great honour.

“I heard that morning that I had been shortlisted, but I didn’t find out I had been picked until after I got back from competing and I was over the moon.”

Tulloch wasn’t the only Brit strutting his stuff at the gymnastics on Friday, Frank Baines picking up gold in the parallel bars and silver in the floor, while Gabriel Jupp followed suit in her beam final.

As the competition in Turkey came to a close, Great Britain finished second on the medal table behind Russia, with a highest ever total of medals with 33.

Team GB’s swimmers played a large part in this and they were at it again today, Matthew Johnson bringing his tally to six with gold in the 400m individual medley.

Nathan Theodoris joined him on the top step of the podium with victory in the 100m backstroke while Shauntelle Austin and Ellena Jones picked up bronze medals in the 200m butterfly and 800m freestyle respectively.

And not to be left out of the final day action, Great Britain’s athletes also got in on the act, Thomas Holligan the star of the show as he stormed to the 200m crown at Sogutlu Athletics Stadium.

The 17-year-old set a new personal best of 21.46 seconds in taking the title, before returning to the track hours later to help the 4x100m team take silver.

However, it is his individual success that he admits will live long in the memory, insisting he will be pinching himself every time he glances at his gold medal.

“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,” Holligan said.

“I knew it was pretty close between myself 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.

“I guess the extra time I had to prepare made all the difference rather than being rushed like I was in the heat.

“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.”