Three cheers (and more) for the group of young athletes representing the Isle of Wight at the World Island Youth Games in The Azores last week.
The team of nineteen teenagers, managed to bring home double the amount of medals from last year including three golds, three silvers and three bronze medals.
The swimming team also achieved a staggering 20 personal bests out of 24 races.
Here’s the low down from the press office on the rest of the team.
Bonchurch athlete, Nicolas Percy, brought home an impressive four medals; golds in the shot-put and discus, silver in the hammer and bronze as part of the 4 x 100m boys relay team.
Leon Phillips (pictured) picked up a gold and a bronze in the long jump and 4 x 100m boys relay respectively while Ryan Transwell won silver in the 400m and was also part of the relay team that won bronze.
Other winners were Charlotte Skeggs (silver in high jump), Eleanor Mitchell (bronze in discus), Charlie Occomore (bronze in triple jump) and Declan Leach (bronze in 4 x 100m boys relay).
Special mention should also go to the Isle of Wight Sailing team, who finished fifth overall in a very strong field. Team Isle of Wight itself finished an impressive eighth overall in the medals table.
Lee Matthews from Isle of Wight Council was the team’s Manager in The Azores and is very proud of the team’s efforts, saying “When you consider the sheer size of the some of the islands we were up against, to return home with nine medals is a fantastic achievement.
“It demonstrates the Island does have some genuine sporting talent, and there’s no reason why many cannot go on from here to a higher level.
“Every member of the team did the Isle of Wight proud and when you consider in 2009 we won five medals, it shows just how far we have come in just a year”
