INSIDE I TODAY Livi girl Emily strikes gold in Bahamas
Livingston athlete’s top turn at Youth Games
Livingston’s Emily Ritchie admits winning gold for her country at the Commonwealth Youth Games was “amazing”.
The 16- year- old got Scotland’s tally up and running on the first day of the competition in the Bahamas as she went undefeated to claim her country’s first gold medal of the Youth Games.
It was also Scotland’s first judo medal, with the sport making its Youth Games debut in the Caribbean.
Emily scored victories over Aoife McCallion of Northern Ireland, England’s Imogen Ranner and Karra Hanna of the host nation to win the gold.
She commented: “That was amazing. The fact that it is the first Youth Games with my sport in it and that I am one of the first gold medallists in the event is an amazing feeling.
“It felt amazing stepping out on the mat, representing the whole of Team Scotland.”
Emily’s success came before the Youth Games were officially declared open with the Opening Ceremony at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, which taking place later that day.
Samoa led the parade of nations as the previous Youth Games host with all 64 competing nations being part of the ceremony.
Scotland shone in the judo, claiming four medals on the opening day with Emily’s team-mates Fiona Todman and Emma Forrest both winning silver while Louis Saez completed the hual with a bronze.
Scotland tallied 21 medals in all across seven sports with 41 athletes aged between 15 and 18-year-old competing.
Colin Gregor, General Team Manager, was delighted with the team’s performance.
He said: “I would like to congratulate each and every one of our athletes on a fantastic Games. Our aim was to ensure they had a really positive experience and it was an added bonus to come home with 21 medals.
“Every single one of them performed to their best and all the athletes have developed and grown through their experience at Bahamas 2017.”
He added: “Learning to perform when it counts at a multi-sport event is a big part of what the Commonwealth Youth Games is all about and our athletes now have great experiences to draw on as they embark of the next stage of their careers.
“They have been a credit to Team Scotland, to their sports and to their families.”
It felt amazing stepping out on the mat, representing the whole of Team Scotland