GSF athlete highlights - Youth Competitions

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, informally known as Trinbago 2023, was a youth sporting event for members of the Commonwealth held in Trinidad and Tobago. The games were held from 4 to 11 August 2023, the games were the first to be held in the Caribbean and the first to include para-sports. 17 past and present young talented GSF athletes secured an incredible 19 medals between them! (6 Gold, 11 Silver and 2 Bronze).

GSF Swimmers Nick Finch (Camden), Reuben Rowbotham-Keating (Manchester) and Edward Marcal Whittles (Kensington & Chelsea) were competing for Team England. Nick impressed all by finishing 1st in his heat and setting a new Junior Commonwealth Games Record with time of 24.32, and then coming home with the Silver medal in the final for the men’s 50m butterfly race. Nick also secured a Silver medal in the men's 100m butterfly and the Gold medal for the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay. Alongside Reuben, they took home the Gold medal with Team England in the mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay. Reuben also added to the medal count, securing Silver medals for his efforts in the mixed 4 x 200m freestyle relay and in the men's 200m butterfly. 

Representing Team Ireland, GSF athletes Grace Davison (Belfast), Brandon Biss (Barnet) and Matthew Hand (Belfast), also took to the pool to showcase their talents. Grace was 1st in her heat for the women's 400m individual medley and took the Gold medal home for this event, she also secured a Silver medal for the women's 200m individual medley. Brandon was also on the podium after winning the Silver medal in the men's 100m backstroke and a Bronze medal for the men's 200m backstroke event. 

Rounding up the action in the pool and gaining valuable international competition experience was Zach Moyo (Belfast), who was representing Zambia, and for Team Wales were GSF athletes Joshua O'Brien (Cardiff), Maxwell Anderson (Cardiff) and Sophie Brassington (Cardiff). Securing a Silver medal for Team Wales, Maxwell finished second in the men’s 200m breaststroke event. 

Outside of the pool, Peter Soczewka (Barnet) and his partner represented Team England in the men’s beach volleyball competition, where they battled their way to through to the final match - just missing out to Canada to take home the Silver Medal. GSF alumni Calum Moir had a very successful games for Team Scotland in the cycling events. Calum took home the Gold medal in the men's 3000m individual pursuit, Gold in the men's points race, Silver in the men's 1000m time trial and a Bronze medal in the men's 10km scratch race. 

On the athletics track and representing Team Ireland, Toby Thompson (Belfast) had a strong competition, finishing 1st in heat for the men's 200m race, but narrowly missed out on a place in the final after finishing 3rd in the semi-final. For Team Wales, Tomi Roberts-Jones (Cardiff) ran an impressive race in the final to take home the Gold medal in the men's 100m - T38 race. Representing Team England on the track were GSF athletes Thea Brown (Manchester), Noah Hanson (Lee Valley) and Jess Bailey (South Lakeland). Thea added to the medal count after securing the Silver medal for the women's 100m hurdles, the Silver medal in the women's high jump, and the Silver medal with Noah and team England for 4 x 100m relay mixed. Noah also secured an individual Silver medal, after coming second in the men’s 110m hurdles.

The 2023 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival

The 2023 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival or EYOF 2023, also known as Maribor 2023, was held from 23 to 29 July 2023 in Maribor, Slovenia. 7 past and present young talented GSF athletes represented Team GB and secured an impressive 5 medals between them across 4 disciplines! (2 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze).

GSF athlete Martyna Karabacz (Greenwich) and alumni athlete Joshua Inglis kicked off the competition in the pool. GSF alumni Joshua had an incredible time in Maribor, taking home the Gold medal in the boys 100m breaststroke event, Silver in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay and a Bronze medal for his part in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. Martyna just missed out on a medal, finishing in 4th place for the Girls 200m backstroke event.

Gaining valuable international competition experience, GSF athlete Abigail Miller (Cambridge) competed in the Girls time trial cycling competition, finishing 17th overall. Ellie Lewis (supported through HALO Bridgend) secured another medal in Gymnastics, after finishing 3rd with Team GB for the Girls team final competition. Also showcasing their talents on the Judo mat were GSF athletes, Irakli Goginashvili (Tower Hamlets), Derek Marczak (Croydon) and Julia Marczak (Croydon). Julia rounded off the medal count after taking home the Gold medal in the girl’s u70kg Judo competition. 

 

It has been a pleasure to follow the hard work of GSF athletes at these competitions, a huge congratulations to all who took part!