The pool and the track provided a fantastic medal haul for the Irish contingent at the European Youth Olympic Festival. Rhasidat Adeleke and Molly Mayne brought home thre medals between them. Adeleke took gold in both the 100m and 200m finals while Mayne won a bronze medal in the Girl’s 200m Breaststroke at the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Baku.
Gymnasts Caoimhe Donohoe and Eve McKibbin also made their EYOF debut in Baku. The youngest members of Team Ireland, savouring the occasion. From Galway, Donohoe finished 63rd in the All Around – scoring particularly high in the beam with 11.80, ranked 28th. Eve McGibbon competed in the Floor Routine only, where she finished 75th. This year’s event for the gymnasts was all about gaining experience, and both of them relished the experience. “The floor went really well, considering yesterday in the podium it wasn’t the best,” Donohoe said after the competition. “I was able to land my double back which was a big thing for me. My beam went really well, I was happy with the beam.”
Back on the track Sean Donoghue finished 6th in the Boy’s 1500m, knocking three seconds off his personal best time, crossing the line in 3.58.15. In athletics Aimee Hayde finished sixth in the 800m Final.
The EYOF is a European event for athletes aged 14-18 that runs every two years, and Team Ireland is represented by thirty-two athletes across five sports. Baku is hosting the 2019 edition which runs from the 21 – 27 July.