By Graham Thomas
Portugal dominated the medals tally at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul, winning three of the four gold medals available.
Francisco Gouveia – who also won gold at the World Boccia Youth Championships in Brazil in May – won the BC1 Mixed title, with teammates Luis Costa (pictured above in his moment of celebration; pic: Bronac McNeill) taking gold in the BC3 Mixed, followed by BC4 Mixed champion, Rafael Viriato.
The only athlete able to prevent a Portuguese clean sweep of the gold medals was Eliška Jankechová of Slovakia, who took gold in the BC2 Mixed competition.
Athletes from Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and Hungary also made the podium.
The European Para Youth Games was a multi-sport event, organised by the European Paralympic Committee and featured para athletics, wheelchair basketball, para archery, goalball, para judo, para swimming, para taekwondo and para table tennis as well as boccia.
Congratulations to all the athletes who took part.
Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games Medal Winners
BC1 Mixed:
Gold – Francisco Gouveia (Portugal)
Silver – Riccardo Zanella (Italy)
Bronze – Adam Kriz (Czech Republic)
BC2 Mixed:
Gold – Eliška Jankechová (Slovakia)
Silver – Anze Strazberger (Slovenia)
Bronze – Nina Melicherová (Slovakia)
BC3 Mixed:
Gold – Luís Costa (Portugal)
Silver – Christian Schimpl (Austria)
Bronze – Bor Tit Jerlah (Slovenia)
BC4 Mixed:
Gold – Rafael Viriato (Portugal)
Silver – Marin Govorko (Croatia)
Bronze – Gergő Gigacz (Hungary)
