10th September 2018

Mason Yarrow, one of GB Taekwondo’s up and coming youngsters, has earned a call-up to next month’s Youth Olympic Games (October 6-18) in Argentina.

The 17-year-old from Doncaster now joins Aaliyah Powell and Sharissa Gannaway on the plane to Buenos Aires

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” said the Yorkshire teenager, a member of Ultimate Taekwondo club.

“I’m so happy and can’t wait to experience and represent my country in such a massive event as the Youth Olympics.”

Mason, however, is no stranger to international competition. In 2015, he represented Great Britain at the Cadet World Championships in South Korea and brought home a bronze medal.

His excellent progress this year merited inclusion in GB Taekwondo’s senior European Championship squad, fighting at -54kg.

Despite an early exit, he acquitted himself against Russian Magomed Gagiev who went on to win a silver medal to add to a World Taekwondo President’s Cup gold from earlier in the season.

“It’s my dream come true too,” added Mason who also fought at the 2018 Junior World Championships and won gold as a junior at the recent Luxembourg Open.

GB Taekwondo’s Development Manager, Steve Green said: “I am absolutely delighted for Mason.

“I am convinced that this will prove to be a pivotal moment in his career. There is no doubt that this is the biggest and most prestigious event and will give Mason the chance to experience competing in a multi-sport environment for the first time.”

The Youth Olympics first catapulted Jade Jones to international stardom eight years ago.

The Welsh star, 17 when she won her gold medal in Singapore, has gone on to become double Olympic champion and reigning world number one.

Four years later, Christian McNeish and Abigail Stones won a pair of bronze medals when the Games were hosted in China. Londoner McNeish is presently the reigning European champion and has won three other tournaments in 2018.

The athletes will also be joined by 62 athlete role models in Argentina whose primary function will be to support, advise and inspire the young athletes.

Jade Jones will be included in the mix as well as, four-time Olympian and Rio 2016 gold medallist Helen Richardson-Walsh.

Buenos Aires beat off competition from Medellin in Colombia and Glasgow to win the Games which also feature karate and judo as well as others, including dancesport, futsal, roller speed skating and sport climbing.