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CSIS - Balfron curler selected for European Youth Olympics
The team, selected by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) in partnership with British Curling, announced the Scottish squad of Gray, Hannah Fleming, Rebecca Kesley, Anna Sloan and Alice Spence along with Coach Debbie Knox.
“It means so much to me,” said a thrilled 16 year old Lauren Gray. “I am so excited to go abroad and hopefully bring home a gold medal. Our team has been selected carefully, we are all friends and we all work together really well.
“Although we have never played together as a team before, our team dynamic will be really strong.”
Lauren has never been to an event of this level before but there is ample international experience in the Gray family. Her older brother Logan competed in two Junior World Championships, winning bronze medals in both.
She is also in the top junior side at a time when Scottish girls curling has never been in better shape. Led by Pitlochry’s Eve Muirhead, the national junior team has won the World Junior Championships for the last two years in succession.
“It drives us all to be able to perform to that level,” said Lauren. “Eve Muirhead’s team has set the bar for the rest of us and we want to keep that standard going. It drives the rest of us because we all want to be the name that’s on that cup as well.
“I was runner up in this year’s Scottish Junior Championships which is the qualification for the Junior Worlds team. Next year we are going to win the Scottish Junior Championships and go on to compete at the Worlds in Vancouver.”
Supporting Lauren is the Central Scotland Institute of Sport. The Area Institutes of Sport network provides high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent, working with partners to build greater success for Scottish sport. Its expert teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
“This is my second year with the Central Institute,” she said. “We’ve got gym memberships, Strength & Conditioning training, fitness testing, sports psychology, Performance Lifestyle support - it’s all round help and it makes a big difference.”
The GB European Youth Olympics team and coaching staff will meet on 4th September to discuss the future plans for the squad in the build up to Poland.
Said former Olympic gold medallist and RCCC Performance Development Coach, Rhona Martin, who helped select the team: “I am delighted that Lauren has been selected as part of the team to represent Great Britain at the European Youth Olympic Festival.
“Lauren’s enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to curling will make her a valuable member of the Team.
“It will be a great experience for Lauren and will certainly help develop her potential to compete on the world stage and reach the medal podium. The youth Olympics is also about having fun in sport and I am sure Lauren will learn a great deal to help her move forward with her curling career.”