Welsh artistic trio appear on CBBC Newsround after incredible EYOF experience

Welsh artistic gymnasts Ellie Lewis, Jemima Taylor and Alex Niscoveanu all returned home from Slovenia with medals in their luggage after representing Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor.

Alex won Team gold alongside Jonas Rushworth (Leeds) and Sol Scott (Huntingdon) in the Boys Team Final, as well as individual all-around bronze.

Ellie and Jemima, meanwhile, teamed up with Ema Kandalova, from London, to bag bronze in the Girls Team Final.

Our Welsh trio also qualified for multiple individual apparatus finals between them.

Alex competed in the Boys floor and pommel horse finals, Jemima took her place in the Girls vault and floor finals – only just missing out on the medal places in the latter – while Ellie finished sixth on uneven bars.

“EYOF was incredible,” said Ellie. “It really was an experience that I will always remember with fantastic team of both WAG & MAG.

“I was disappointed to pick up an injury out there which meant I could only do two apparatus, but I am so pleased with how it all went – and to make bar finals felt amazing.

“It has really given me so much excitement and confidence to continue to push forwards in the rest of Juniors.”

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There was also Girls individual all-around bronze for Ema, all-around silver for Jonas and bronze on vault for Sol in the Boys event, taking the gymnastics medal tally to six.

The six young British gymnasts were part of a 39-strong Team GB competing across five different sports at what was the 17th edition of the summer EYOF across six days of competition.

The gymnastics team were led in Slovenia by Welsh Gymnastics head national women’s artistic coach Tracey Skirton-Davies.

Team GB finished the Maribor 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival with 24 medals in total, placing seventh in the overall medal standings.

Congratulations gymnasts and coaches!