Flying the flag for GB
JEMIMA Yeats-Brown was going for gold at the European Youth
Olympics yesterday, but the week has already been a personal triumph for the
judo star.
The 16-year-old from Benenden was selected to carry the Union Jack flag at the
opening ceremony in Turkey on Sunday.
ALL SMILES: Jemima Yeats-Brown in Turkey
"It was a big surprise to be selected as flag bearer because there were lots of
other athletes who were just as deserving," the Tonbridge ace said. "They chose
me and it is really special."I am really proud and hope that I do my best for
Team GB."
Her coach Chris Bowles added: "It means a lot to our club. But it also means a
lot to British judo. "Jemima is helping put British judo on the map again and at
the forefront of Olympic sports. It's important to show that as a sport we can
and are producing European and World medallists. Jemima is at the front of that
queue."
Yeats-Brown was due to be competing in the under 63kg class yesterday. Following
her victory in the European Cadet Championships, she went into the tournament as
favourite.
Elsewhere, it was another successful weekend for judo players from the Tonbridge
dojo. Ashley McKenzie, the great British hope who trains under Bowles, won gold
for the second year running at the German Europa Cup. At the same competition,
20-year-old Kerry Ford finished seventh in the senior women's 57kg competition.
"It was a fantastic display," Bowles said. "I'm really, really pleased for her.
She was getting a bit lost at under 63kg, but we stripped the weight and she has
been absolutely awesome at under 57kg."
Finally Andrew Panayi, after a tough draw, finished ninth in the Polish Open in
the under 20, under 60kg class.
