Joy for Platten as GB land first gold at European Youth Olympic Festival
A delighted Amy Platten after winning gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival. Picture: EUROPEAN JUDO UNION - Credit: Archant
Team GB won three medals on day two of the European Youth Olympic Festival – with the star being Amy Platten’s gold.
The St Albans High School pupil took the top honour in the 44kg judo event at the festival in Gyor, Hungary.
The 16-year-old executed a perfect throw for ippon over Tamea Kardos from the host nation in front of a partisan home crowd.
“I’m buzzing, absolutely over the moon,” said Platten. “I had a lot of nerves at the start of the day which is strange as I don’t usually.
“But this is a big event and with the Hungarian seeded first I knew it was going to be a big crowd with a lot of pressure, but I just focused and took one fight at a time.
“It was amazing to play in front of the home crowd and I just absorbed the energy and put it into the fight. Every time I heard a cheer I was getting something from it too.
“I received amazing support from my team, I could hear it throughout. They were giving as good as they got.”