Camden’s girls’ football team beat Hackney 2-0 in the ParaGames final

THE Commonwealth Games wasn’t the only multi-sports showpiece that sparked a sizzling summer of medals and memories.

Proud youngsters have been reflecting on their own fantastic feats after representing their boroughs at the London Youth Games.

Team Camden had plenty of reasons to celebrate after capturing 18 gongs – consisting of 11 golds, three silvers and four bronze medals.

Trampoliners were named ‘Camden’s best mixed team’ after winning bronze

Ardent athletes also earned plenty of precious points even when they didn’t make the podium, helping Team Camden record their highest ever position at the Games with an 11th-place finish out of the capital’s 33 boroughs.

Theodore Irving (centre)

“What a triumph! Everyone who took part has really made the borough proud,” said Team Camden’s manager, Ben Dorsett, who works for Camden Council’s Sport and Physical Activity Service. “Our next challenge now is to earn a top-10 finish!

Bertie Shaw

“It was fantastic seeing all the young people taking part in all the various sports and interacting with each other. I want to thank all the coaches, volunteers and, of course, the athletes for turning out for the borough.”

Illias Zghoundi (right)

Among the winners were Camden’s girls’ football team, who struck gold in the ParaGames after beating Hackney 2-0 in the final.

Elsa Shabani (centre)

It was a success that would earn the squad not only gold medals, but also the Outstanding Girls’ Team Award when Camden hosted a special celebration night in honour of their young stars in mid-July.

Inara Jean-Baptise with Camden Mayor Nash Ali

The boys’ para football team scooped silver medals after being beaten 2-0 by Hackney in their final.

Camden’s boys’ para football team won silver

Regent High School in Somers Town can also look back on the ParaGames with pride after a number of their pupils dominated their disciplines at the athletics.

Cyclist Paul Opie (right)

Inara Jean-Baptise won gold in the shot put and the javelin, later earning her Camden’s Outstanding Individual Girl Award at the borough’s end-of-season celebration.

BMX racers Georgia and Maisie Surtees, and Micah Drummond, who won an individual bronze

Sammy Rahman won gold in the 100m and 200m sprints, while Daniel Antek also topped the podium after winning his shot put competition.

Wheelchair racer Illias Zghoundi continued to dominate on the track as he won both his ParaGames 100m and 200m races, earning him the Outstanding Individual Boy Award.

Marina Kennedy

Among the standout performers in the open games was Paul Opie, who won a gold and a bronze medal in the cycling road races, while Bertie Shaw took silver in the Year 10 and Under kayak sprints.

The girls’ football squad representing Team Camden celebrate their gold

In the athletics there were gold medals for Theodore Irving in the vortex howler throw, and Elsa Shabani in the shot put – a result that would see the Highgate Harrier share the Outstanding Individual Girl Award with Inara Jean-Baptise.

Alice Whitmore also bagged a bronze in the vortex howler throw.

Swiss Cottage Swimming Club member Marina Kennedy won silver in the 50m breaststroke, while there were bronze medals for Micah Drummond in the BMX, and the borough’s mixed trampoline team.