BARRY gymnastics coach Olivia Bryl has been named the UK’s young coach of the year!

Olivia took the Heather Crouch Young Coach of the Year award at the sports coach UK (scUK) hosted awards ceremony in London on Tuesday (November 20).

The 24-year-old took up gymnastics at the age of four and a half, and went on to compete internationally in the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

She is now the talent development coach for the women’s artistic programme in Wales with Welsh Gymnastics.

She has in the last year developed an innovative coach and gymnast identification programme, selecting gymnasts from schools and clubs to progress into development squads.

She was also selected as a judge at the London 2012 Olympic trials and coached a squad of nine and 10-year-olds to British titles. After receiving her award from HRH The Princess Royal, Olivia said: “It feels great to win - I really didn’t expect it.

"To be here with so many top coaches and athletes and to be given an award for a job you love is a great honour.

“I’ve got a real passion for Welsh gymnastics and I just try and do my best for all the gymnasts I work with.

“But in reality it’s all about a team of coaches and other people who all work together. If it wasn’t for the whole team then I wouldn’t be winning awards like this.

“I just hope to keep improving and working hard as a coach.”

Olivia is also one of the world’s youngest international judges and in the past year has taken three squads of young gymnasts to overseas training camps, giving the youngsters valuable competition experience as well as picking up techniques she can share in Wales.

For further information visit www.sportscoachuk.org