Two of the medals were won in the swimming pool, bringing the total number of medals claimed by British swimmers to eight.

 

 

The other was achieved through an outstanding performance by Livesey in the -63kg category.

The St Helens player came through her first three fights without a point being scored against her and had to contest no less than five fights to claim her medal.

 

She said: “It went well today,

 

"I felt strong from the beginning, but by the end of it when I got into the semi-finals I was tired.

 

"When I lost that one I thought I’m in the bronze fight now so I’m going to put everything I’ve got into the last four minutes and I did it.”

Livesey enjoyed strong British support throughout and has big plans for the future.

 

She said: "My teammates and the crowd helped me a lot.

 

"It’s been a great experience and I’ll never forget it.

 

"This is definitely the biggest achievement of my career and my ambition is to compete in the Olympics, hopefully in London when I’ll be 18.”

Both British swimmers who secured bronze medals today reacted with disappointment.

 

Britain's youngest member, 13-year-old Amelia Maughan (pictured) from Dorset, set a personal best to add 50 metres freestyle bronze to the 100m gold she won earlier in the week.

 

She said: “I felt I could have got at least silver so I am a little bit disappointed.

 

"The time is nice and the fact that I picked up another medal is pleasing but when you are ranked second, that’s what you should be aiming for.

 

"I’m still learning all the time and I’m sure there will be a bit more pressure on me next time, but I’m looking forward to it."

Ponteland's Kathryn Woolston-Thomas earned her second medal of the EYOF with 200m freestyle bronze, but echoed Maughan’s reaction to the colour of the medal.

 

She said: “The aim was gold and I was ranked first so I’m pretty gutted with myself.

 

"I went out quite strong in the first 100m and at 150m I was still ahead; it was just the last 50m where they caught me up.

 

"I tried my hardest but it just didn’t really work.
 

“I did feel proud on the medal podium though so I am also happy, third is not bad.

 

"My all time goal is to get to the Olympic Games so hopefully I can achieve that.

 

"This week has been an amazing experience and I’ve really enjoyed it, being around all the other countries and sports has been really good.”
 

The final day of the 2009 EYOF tomorrow sees a full schedule in both the swimming pool and on the athletics track, as well as British involvement in tennis and gymnastics before the closing ceremony in the Tampere Ratina Stadium will draw the curtain on the event.