Aviemore windsurfer to take on world's best juniors

TEENAGE sailing sensation Islay Watson is ready to take on the world's best young windsurfers at the Youth Olympic Games.

The Aviemore rising star will represent Great Britain at the international games taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from tomorrow until October 18 with racing commencing on Sunday.

She will be among 42 British athletes aged between 14 and 18 who will compete in 17 sports over 12 days of action.

The Aviemore sailor will race in the Techno 293 Plus windsurfing class having impressed selectors with a string of top results this season.

The 17-year-old claimed bronze at the class European Championships as well as winning the Youth World Championships in the RS:X class.

Watson will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tom Daley, Jade Jones and Duncan Scott who all went on to win medals at an Olympic Games having first competed at a Youth Olympic Games.

"I'm excited to get started now," said Watson. "I've done all the training and I'm feeling pretty ready. I'm not really sure what to expect but I am just excited to be representing Team GB at such a big event.

"Everyone has their favourite conditions for racing but I am hoping for a mixed week with all conditions. Just got to wait and see what happens."

Watson is a product of the Royal Yachting Association's British Youth Sailing programme, which aims to identify and develop the world's best young racing sailors.

She will be supported at the Youth Olympics by British Youth Sailing coach Oli Woodcock, an experienced windsurfer with a proven track record for nurturing young athletes.

The 2018 Youth Olympics, which will feature almost 4,000 of the world's most talented young athletes from 206 nations, is the third edition of the Games following Singapore 2010 and Nanjing 2014.

The games will also make history through its commitment to gender equality by becoming the first Olympic event to host the same number of male and female athletes with 1,999 of each set to compete in Argentina.

Follow Watson's progress at the Youth Olympic Games via British Youth Sailing's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.