East Kilbride swimmer picked for European Youth Olympics team
(25th June 09)
East Kilbride swimmer, Alasdair Stirling, has been named among 61 top young athletes to represent Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Tampere, Finland from 18-25 July 2009.
The 10th edition of the EYOF will see nearly 2500 athletes from 49 European nations competing in a total of nine sports: athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming, tennis, basketball, handball and volleyball. Participating athletes will be between 13 and 16 years old, depending on their sport.
“This will be my first GB cap and the biggest event I’ve ever been to,” said 16 year old Alasdair.
“Long term I’d like to make the Olympics so this will be a great experience. This is very important to me and I want to do as well as I can.”
Alasdair is one of two Scottish swimmers to be picked for Team GB. His second place in the 200m freestyle and fourth place in the 100m freestyle at the recent British trials secured his berth for Finland.
Alasdair swims for East Kilbride ASC under coach, Andy Figgins. Supporting him for the past two seasons is the West of Scotland Institute of Sport. Providing high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent, its expert teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
“The West of Scotland Institute organises my Strength & Conditioning training twice a week which is really helpful,” he said. “Last year I had a problem with my back and they gave me a load of physio which made a big difference.”
At the 2007 EYOF, Great Britain finished third in the medal table with a superb haul of nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals. Team GB has been represented at every edition since it began. A total of 28 British athletes have represented Team GB at an EYOF and also gone on to compete at an Olympic Games. Most recently Hannah Whelan, who participated in the 2007 EYOF in gymnastics, went on to represent Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Said Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England: “It’s fantastic and a huge privilege to be taking a young and talented Team GB to the 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival. I’m confident that we will see some outstanding performances by the 61 athletes competing across the sports of athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming and tennis.
“The Olympic Festival gives us the chance to discover future Olympic Champions and offers a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to experience a multi-sport environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games. The Festival strives to provide a true Olympic experience to young competitors, and the Opening Ceremony incorporates the traditions of an Olympic Games with an athletes’ parade, athletes’ and officials’ oath, lighting of the Festival flame, and the raising of the Olympic Flag.”
