38OLYMPIC REVIEWYOUTH OLYMPIC GAMESHow do the Youth Olympic Games compare toother championships that you've competed in?It's the best one! It's a great feeling to be able to say I'm the YOG's fastest boy. Seeing the Olympicrings made me feel like I'm on the biggest stage and it helped me perform to my best. It's a greatfeeling to represent my country and have Jamaica on my chest.What was going through your mind when youcrossed the finish line?I won! I'm the champion and I made history. It was a very emotional moment for me.How much will this experience help you prepare for the future?This trip is a learning experience. It helps to knowabout different people, countries and cultures. Now,when I go to different countries, I know what toexpect when I get there.How much do you look up to people like Usain Bolt?Very much. Usain is an ambassador for our countryand he makes Jamaica proud.How much have you enjoyed the YOG?It's been awesome. Our event went over the wholetwo weeks, but we still managed to do some of theculture and education activities and they've beenreally good too. It's really interesting to see how other people are,what they do, what they eat. We've been trying tospeak to a lot of them, but sometimes we can't reallyunderstand each other. I've made quite a few new friends.How does it feel to represent your country?It makes you feel so much bigger and stronger, justknowing that you're playing for your country.Competing for Australia is something that doesn'thappen every day.What's it been like knowing that you'recompeting on the Olympic stage?It's awesome. Even wearing the Olympic rings on our shirt is just something I'm so proud of.Do you see the YOG as an important part of your sporting career?Hopefully it's a stepping stone. I'm sure going to tryand push on and get into the Olympic Games. It's been a real inspiration.YOUNG ATHLETESODEAN SKEEN(JAM) - GOLD MEDALLIST IN MEN'S 100MCASEY HAMMOND(AUS) - GOLD MEDALLIST IN MEN'S HOCKEY

OLYMPIC REVIEW39YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMESHow much did you enjoy the Youth Olympic Games?It was really a great experience for me as I was able to meet athletes from all over the world. It wasreally interesting living in the village because youlearn so much about different sports and differentcountries and cultures - it was great.How different is the YOG to otherchampionships that you've competed in?The focus isn't so much on the sports - it's onhaving fun together and meeting new people. I like that element and I think it's important.How important to you was it to win the gold medal?It's really important for me because winning the first rowing medal at the Youth Olympic Games is something people will remember. In ten years,they can say, "That's her - she won the gold medal at the first ever YOG."JUDITH SIEVERS(GER) - GOLD MEDALLIST IN WOMEN'S SINGLE SCULLS