Photo finish as Baynham-Williams helps Team GB to rowing bronze at Youth Olympic Festival

Former Newent Community School pupil Morgan Baynham-Williams insists the future of the women's eight is in safe hands after she coxed them to a podium finish at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

While her compatriots jumped into the action Down Under last week,  Baynham-Williams, 18, had to wait until Sunday and the final day of action to strut her stuff at the Sydney Regatta Centre.

But after the long wait, that is exactly what she did as the Ross Rowing Club member led the women's eight across the line in 6:41.71 minutes.

It was far from straight forward, however, as they trailed in fourth heading into the final stages of the race and needed a photo finish to secure their bronze medal.

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But after a place on the podium had been secured, Baynham-Williams was quick to look to the future, insisting it looks very bright indeed.

"I am really happy to have won this bronze medal as it was a really tough race," she said.

"It was a hard race, everyone put their all into it and we put ourselves on the line.

"It was tough and we had to dig deep right at the end to make sure we got a medal and everyone did what we needed to do.

"Everyone worked hard and tried as hard as they could and that is all you can ask. We definitely found our finish at the end.

"We can learn a lot from this regatta that we can take on board and move forward but we came together quickly and I am confident that we can continue to improve."

This was Baynham-Williams' first taste of an Olympic-style event and she admitted the success had left her hungry for more.

"With me only in the one event I had some time to take it all in and just see what a massive event the Australian Youth Olympic Festival is," she added.

"It is great to represent Team GB with the Olympic rings on your kit and now I have done it I just want to do it again and again now."

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk