Peterson Embarks On European Youth Olympic Festival Journey
Allie Peterson (Co. Galway) becomes only the second figure skater to represent Ireland at a European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) as she takes to the ice later this week at the 2025 edition hosted by Bakuriani, Georgia. The ice skating events will take place in the Black Sea coastal resort of Batumi.
Peterson’s competition begins on Wednesday, 12 February with the short programme. The free skating will be held the following day on Thursday, 13 February. The 15-year-old, whose maternal grandparents are from Galway, was born outside Boston, and relocated in 2021 to Colorado Springs to train with Olympic and World coach Tammy Gambill and her team.
“Being selected to represent Ireland at the EYOF is an incredible honour and a dream come true,” Peterson said. “It is the result of hard work, dedication and the support of my family and coaches. Wearing the Ireland jacket on an international stage is a privilege and I am excited to compete against some of the best young athletes in Europe. I hope to make my country proud and gain invaluable experience that will help me grow as an athlete.”
The EYOF is a multi-sport competition that takes place every two years. Run by the European Olympic Committees (EOC), it is an important step in the development of athletes who may be targeting senior events. This year’s competition will bring together 865 athletes from across Europe to compete in 37 events. In addition to Peterson, Ireland will be represented by three other athletes in Alpine skiing.
EYOF Bakuriani 2025 will be streamed by the EOC on https://eoctv.org/live/ with updates on the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) social media channels.
Competition Schedule (Figure Skating)
12 February – Girls Short Programme (Peterson)
13 February – Girls Free Skating (Peterson)
