Abbie Wood selected for Great Britain Youth Olympic Team!

courtesy of the BOA

Abbie Wood - picture courtesy of DE Photo

 
Derventio eXcel Swimmer ABBIE WOOD and DX coach KIM HILL have been selected to represent Great Britain at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands from 14th-19th July 2013.

14 year old Abbie has been selected as part of a select 16 strong swimming team to compete against the best young swimmers in Europe as part of the Great Britain Youth Olympic Team.  The swimmers will be joined by other GB athletes ranging from 13 - 17 years old from sports such as Cycling, Judo, Tennis and Gymnastics.

This is the first International multi-sport event that these young athletes can compete in and gives them a taste of what it is like to compete in an Olympic arena.

Abbie Wood - picture courtsey of J. Wood

Competition for the team was immense with only 16 places up for grabs on this small but select team.  British Age Group record holder Abbie gained selection for this event by achieving the selection criteria  in both the 200m Breaststroke in which she also finished 6th in the Senior category and in the 400m Individual Medley at the British Gas International Open in Leeds earlier this year.

Her coach Kim Hill says "I am very proud of Abbie.  She is a great girl with a tremendous amount of competitive spirit.  She always works hard and handled the pressure situation of the selection meet well.  I know she is now looking forward to the challenge of racing swimmers from around Europe, as well as meeting new teammates, she has a busy schedule but that is the way she likes it being in the thick of the action".



Abbie has an exciting summer ahead, straight after she gets back from the European Youth Olympics she will have a few days to refocus and recharge and will be off to Sheffield for the National Age Group Championships, where she will join with her Derventio teammates to compete in individual and relay events.  Then it will be off on a well earnt holiday.