Mellemgaard ready for long haul to success

Andrias Mellemgaard will complete a round-trip of almost 8,000 kilometres as the Faroe Islands' solitary European Para Youth Games (EPYG) competitor in Istanbul - but he would not have missed it for anything.

The 15-year-old Para swimmer has only been competing since 2022, yet an ambition burns brightly to represent his country at the next Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

And if he achieves that dream, it would maintain the Faroe Islands' proud record in international Para sport, having collected 13 Paralympic medals, highlighted by backstroke swimmer Christina Naess' gold 37 years ago.

Mellemgaard trains in his home town of the Faroe Islands' capital Torshavn, and although competition appearances can regularly mean considerable travel, it is something the talented teenager takes in his stride.

"I am so excited to swim here. It is my biggest competition, for sure," said Mellemgaard, who will compete in breaststroke and freestyle events at the Cebeci Sports Complex.

"I am looking to always improve and get better times. I am pleased with my form.

"My biggest goal is to go to the Paralympics in Los Angeles so this is a very important competition (EPYG) in terms of my development. I feel like I am making progression, and I am working particularly on my technique and strength."

Mellemgaard trains daily, regularly swimming two kilometres, with a fierce focus on meeting the required standards as he continues his development.

"When I was small my parents used to take me swimming, and I just kept doing it," he added. "I didn't really like it at the start when I was a little kid, but that changed as I became better at it."

The Faroe Islands comprise a series of islands located between Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom, with a total population of almost 55,000.

Trondur Ravnsfjall, the Faroes' chef de mission at EPYG, underlined the importance of athletes having an opportunity to broaden their experiences, and particularly welcomed EPYG's Discovery Programme initiative.

"Because we have so so few athletes in each discipline, it makes it difficult to compete at home, so we have to travel a lot. That is is expensive and demanding of the athletes, becasue they are away from school, home or work," he said.

"We have excellent facilities in the Faroe Islands, and we have a brand new 50-metre Olympic pool built in the capital. We are certainly going in the right direction.

"We see EPYG as a great opportunity for development in a bigger competition, being away from home for a week and things like that.

"Coming here to EPYG was always in our plan, and we hope to bring more young athletes in the future. This event is growing - it is only a few years since it started - and it is growing fast in the right direction.

"There is so much more to being an athlete than just on the field or in the pool, and it is great that we have some input for the athletes and coaches here. We will embark on as much as of the Discovery Programme as we can."

The record-breaking Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games officially open on 24 July and run until 27 July. They will feature a record 640 athletes with 1,200 competitors, coaches and team staff from 33 countries, also the biggest ever number, competing in Para archery, Para athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para taekwondo.

Participants will also get to experience the Discovery Programme where they will have the chance to take part in education and experiences in a broad range of topics, including activities designed to immerse the people of Istanbul in EPYG and to get to know Para sport.