(Madi Rowlands at The BRITS in 2014)
16 athletes will be representing Team GB at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Norway next month, including five skiers across different disciplines.
Lillehammer 2016, which runs from the 12th – 21st February, will see around 1,100 of the world’s best young athletes descend on Norway to compete in 70 events during 10 days of winter sport action.
The five British Ski and Snowboard athletes selected for YOG are Alpine skiers Yasmin Cooper (17, Chichester), Iain Innes (17, Edinburgh), Ski Cross athlete Isobel Brown (16, Ashbourne), and GB Park and Pipe skiers Cal Sandieson (17, Glasgow) who will compete in Slopestyle and Madi Rowlands (17, Maidstone) who will compete in Ski Slopestyle and Halfpipe.
Team GB’s delegation will feature in seven of the 15 disciplines that make up the sporting programme. As well as alpine and freestyle skiing they will compete in As well as alpine and freestyle skiing, they will compete in bobsleigh, curling, freestyle skiing, ice hockey skills challenge, luge and skeleton.
“This will no doubt be the pinnacle of these athletes’ careers so far and we want the Youth Olympic Games to be part of a journey to help with their development both as competitors but also as people,” said Team GB’s Chef de Mission Adam Pengilly.
“It feels amazing to be selected and I still can’t quite believe it. Preparations have been going well with recent personal bests in slalom and giant slalom so I’m really looking forward to heading out there. My skiing is really coming on so it’ll be great to challenge myself in Lillehammer as well as getting the chance to meet the rest of the athletes from Team GB and the other sports,” said Alpine skier Yasmin Cooper.
Freestyle skier Isobel Brown commented, “It’s really exciting to have been selected and for me it’s another step towards the Olympic Games. Competing at the Youth Olympic Games isn’t something you get to do every year and it will be an amazing experience. The main thing for me is to have fun and build my confidence. Preparations have gone well and it’s now about staying fit and heading into Lillehammer injury free.”
Lillehammer 2016 is the fourth ever edition of YOG, which started with Singapore 2010, and will be the second winter Games following Innsbruck 2012.
The Games will also look to offer a wider experience for the athletes, with the youth culture and learning festival ‘Sjoggfest’ running as part of Lillehammer 2016 with over 150 workshops and activities to get involved in.
