Girl, 10, wins European biathle medal with Team GB

Evie was part of the gold-winning Team GB squad at the Biathle European Championships

A 10-year-old girl from North Yorkshire is celebrating a team gold medal at the Biathle European Championships.

Evie Wilkinson, from York, competed in the race, which comprised of a 400m run, a 50m open water swim, followed by another 400m run, representing Team GB.

Evie, who helped to secure the medal during the girls' under 11 category in Madeira, hoped biathle would one day become an Olympic sport.

Biathles are similar to triathlon, but without the cycling, where participants take on a run, then a swim, followed by a second run.

Speaking to BBC Radio York, Evie described biathle as a "training sport" which stemmed from the modern pentathlon.

"My mum does running and me and my sister do swimming, so we thought it would be a good way to try our mum’s sport and she could try ours," Evie said.

The young athlete attended York City Baths Club three times a week, while also taking part in run training with her mother.

After qualifying in Blackpool in April, Evie travelled to Madeira to compete at the Biathle European Championships in August.

A biathle is comprised of a run, followed by a swim, then ending in another run

"I’m very proud, she has worked very hard," Evie's mother, Helen Wilkinson, said.

"I knew she had a chance but it’s all on the day.

"It’s an unforgiving race if something goes wrong, especially in Evie’s distances because they are so short."

Ms Wilkinson said the Madeira event was a "special moment", especially as Evie placed in the top three athletes of the winning team.

"She’s got a sensible first run and she leaves enough in the bag to have a good last leg on the run," she added.

Evie hoped to continue competing in biathles, adding: "I think it would be good if biathles made it to the Olympics.

"I’d be aiming for that, otherwise I’ll keep going at the Europeans and then aim for the World Championships."

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