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Bristol student wins gold in Youth Olympics

Emily Cousins competing at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney

Emily Cousins competing at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney courtesy of Digishots

19 March 2009

Emily Cousins, an undergraduate neuroscience student at the University of Bristol, has won the Olympic Gold Medal for Equestrian Dressage at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

The Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) was initiated by the Australian Olympic Committee following the success of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The AYOF is funded by the Australian Olympic Committee and has the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.

Cousins said: ‘Competing at the fifth AYOF was an amazing and unique experience as it was the first time I had competed in such a big, multi-sport event. There were many challenges to contend with, such as the long-distance travel and the fact that the equestrian team had to compete on borrowed horses, all of which made winning the gold medal even more fantastic. Competing in an event like this really makes you want to compete at the real Olympics!'

The AYOF’s mission is to discover future Olympic champions, provide them with an environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games and promote the Olympic ideals of fair play, honesty and pride.

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