Team GB’s winter stars of tomorrow announced for the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced 16 athletes selected to represent Team GB at next month’s Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), including five skiers across different disciplines. 

Lillehammer 2016, which runs from the 12^th – 21^st 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.

Chef de Mission Adam Pengilly said:

“It’s really exciting to announce the team and in just a few days’ time we’ll be gathering together to kit the team out and to assemble for the first time before flying out to Norway.

“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.

“Lillehammer 2016 will be about them gaining the experience of being part of an Olympic environment as well as delivering the best possible performance that they can.

“We’ve got a great mix of sports and we’re represented in seven of the 15 disciplines, with quite a small delegation. I’m sure we’re going to see some exciting things from these young athletes in Norway and beyond.”

Yasmin Cooper (alpine skiing): “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.”

Isobel Brown (freestyle skiing) said: “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.

Team GB at Lillehammer 2016