TWO teenage athletes are getting ready to jet out to a prestigious international competition and represent Team GB.
Daniel Givan and Stefan Krawiec are among the 40-strong squad heading to Slovakia for the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival.
Eighteen-year-old Givan is competing in judo, while 16-year-old Krawiec is flying the flag in the swimming pool.
The event, which takes place from Sunday to next Saturday (July 24-30), attracts about 3,500 athletes and officials from 48 countries across Europe.
Ten sports are contested, with Team GB’s athletes, who are all aged between 13 and 18, competing in badminton, cycling, gymnastics, judo and swimming.
Athletics, basketball, handball, tennis and volleyball complete the sporting programme in Banksa Bystrica.
Givan, of Musselburgh, said: “It is a great honour to compete for Team GB at a Junior Olympics and it has been one of my goals for a long time. I am extremely excited to be selected and I hope that I can make everyone proud.
“This is the biggest event and the only multi-sport event I have been at. I have competed in European Cup events for Judo Scotland and at the Commonwealth Judo Championships.”
Former Musselburgh Burgh Primary School and Musselburgh Grammar School pupil Givan took up judo at the age of four.
He trains with Danderhall Destination Judo Club and will be competing at under-66kg in both the individual and team events.
Ahead of travelling to London yesterday (Thursday) and jetting out to Slovakia today (Friday), he said: “My aim in every competition is to perform to my best ability and win gold.
“At this event, I would be delighted to achieve this goal but I do not underestimate how challenging this will be at this level of competition.”
European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) have proven a springboard for a number of top athletes.
Double Olympic gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington competed in the Paris 2003 EYOF, while successful sprinter Dina Asher-Smith represented Team GB in Trabzon in 2011.
Krawiec, who lives in Prestonpans, will compete in the 100m butterfly and freestyle, as well as the 200m individual medley and relay events.
The teenager, who attends Ross High School in Tranent, started taking swimming lessons at the nearby Loch Centre before joining Tranent Amateur Swimming Club.
He holds several Scottish age-group swimming records and is a member of East Lothian Swim Team (ELST) and the Scottish National Junior Team.
The S5 pupil said: “I feel really proud to be representing Team GB with so many other amazing swimmers.
“This is a huge multi-sport event that is a dream to be part of.
“I have been working hard all season with Danny Kirkham, my coach at ELST – we work really well together. It’s a team effort.
“The British Championships 2022 in April this year was my biggest event so far and that competition was the qualifying event for European Youth Olympic Festival.
“My aim is to swim fast and hopefully medal. This is my first time representing Team GB and I am so proud to be part of the team.
“And this is my first time competing in a large multi-sport event – I want to learn from and embrace the whole experience. I’m going to meet so many new people, swimmers and coaching staff – I want to learn as much as I can.”
Leading the Team GB delegation as Chef de Mission at Banksá Bystrica 2022 will be Lizzie Simmonds, who competed in the Lignano Sabbiadoro 2005 EYOF before going on to represent Team GB at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. She said: “Being selected for Team GB for the first time is a real honour and privilege, and I’m sure today marks a very proud moment for the 40 talented athletes that have qualified for Banská Bystrica 2022.
“Youth Olympic Festivals are hugely important events, offering young athletes invaluable international competition and the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a multi-sport environment.
“Embracing and learning from an experience like this one can be the first step in a journey towards competing for Team GB at a senior Olympic Games.
“Having experienced an EYOF myself as an athlete, I’m now looking forward to welcoming a new generation of Olympic hopefuls to Team GB, and supporting them to perform at their best on the European stage this summer.”
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