Team GB appoint Bath alumnae Rachel Smith and Anna Hopkin to key roles for Skopje 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
Olympians Rachel Smith and Anna Hopkin, who both studied and trained at the University of Bath, will be sharing their experience with emerging athletes after being appointed to key roles with Team GB for the Skopje 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).
Smith (pictured top), who captained Team GB’s rhythmic gymnastics team during London 2012, has been selected as Chef de Mission for Skopje 2025 while Tokyo 2020 swimming gold-medallist Hopkin will take on the role of Athlete Ambassador.
“It is a genuine honour to be named Chef de Mission for Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje,” said Smith, who studied Sports Performance and a master’s degree in Health and Wellbeing at the University.
“For many of our athletes, this will be their first opportunity to wear the Team GB kit and connect with the Olympic Movement. A truly memorable experience and significant milestone in any athlete’s journey.”
Alongside her studies, Smith – who trained in rhythmic gymnastics at Team Bath from 2011 to 2012 – was Athlete Support Officer at the University from 2016 to 2018, supporting the full-time and student performance sport athletes who train at Team Bath.
Among the athletes she worked with was former sporting scholar Hopkin, who trained with the University’s student swimming squad from 2015 to 2018 while studying Sport and Exercise Science. She went on to win mixed 4x100m medley relay gold at Tokyo 2020 and also competed at Paris 2024 before retiring from competitive swimming after the Games.
“I am very proud to be named the Athlete Ambassador for the Skopje European Youth Olympic Festival,” said Hopkin, who will provide advice and support for the young athletes on the team.
“I have always been very passionate about sport and Team GB is such an incredibly special team. To have the chance to hopefully inspire and pass on knowledge to the next generation is something that I am really looking forward to.”
Team GB has announced a 54-strong squad of athletes aged between 13 and 18 for EYOF, which is taking place from 20th to 26 July.
Top picture credit: Sam Mellish/Team GB.
