Hackney goes for gold at the London Youth Games 2016
Hackney recorded its second highest overall result at the London Youth Games, finishing seventh out of the 33 London boroughs who took part, proving the boroughs youth are among the capitals sporting elite.
Over 5,000 young people trained for final selection to represent the borough, with 552 going on to compete against the other 32 London boroughs. Hackney was represented by 44 teams across 30 sports.
The games finished this month with a weekend of finals held at Crystal Palace. Hackney scooped a total of 56 medals, 8 team and 48 individual.
Team medals that were won this year included those for Tennis, Rowing, BMX, Judo Boys and Boccia. Along with individual medals for sailing, athletics, judo, diving, aquathlon, kayak sprint, para indoor rowing, para swimming, rowing, BMX, Cycling.
A highlight of the Games was the fantastic win from Hackney Judo Club, who took home the boys overall team medal, with the club participants taking away a massive 16 individual medals.
A Hackney first in individual medal achievement included Nayannah and Kiah Dubarry Gay winning the prestigious 100m and 200m athletics events.
Nayanna Dubarry Gay, 14, said: “I feel rewarded, I didn’t achieve a medal last year, but this year I did it”. Her sister, Kiah Dubarry Gay, also 14, from the Bridge Academy, went on to say: “It was great to share this achievement with my sister, who also won the gold medal.”
Other notable wins include first time Aquathlon competitor Thomas Archer who finished second, Pele Julien who won his first gold in senior Diving and Maddie Childs, who appeared in the games for the first time, walked away with a gold medal for sailing.
Grace Bradley-Shankar, 17, from Stoke Newington and who is now a member of the GB sailing academy, said: “It is always a buzz to come along and compete in the youth games, it is a privilege. I also like the run-up to competitions, helping coach other young people starting out in the sport that I love.”
Once again Hackney’s young athletes have done us proud. Their hard work and dedication has paid off with a fantastic haul of 56 medals.
It is great to see we are producing some of the best sporting talent in the capital. I would like to say a huge congratulations to our young people as well as their coaches and teachers.
The Council is already on the lookout for young people for next year’s Hackney teams in the London Youth Games 2017 event, so if you are interested or wish to know more please contact the Leisure and Physical Activity team on: 020 8356 2230 or go to the council web pages to see where your local training is: www.hackney.gov.uk/sports-london-youth-games.htm.
You can find more photographs from this year's London Youth Games by visiting the Hackney Council Flickr.