Amy Platten is European Youth Olympic champion after triumphing at the judo -44kg event in Gyor, Hungary yesterday.

Platten, from St. Albans, was unbeaten throughout the day and eventually upset the Hungarian home favourite Tamea Kardos in the final with a golden score ippon to clinch the title.

The 16-year-old, who is ranked third in the world in her age category, is competing as part of Team GB the multi-sport European Youth Olympic Festival and her gold was the team’s first of the competition.

“I’m buzzing. I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Platten. “I had a lot of nerves at the start of the day which is strange as I don’t usually but this is a big event and with the Hungarian seeded first I knew it was going to be a big crowd with a lot of pressure, but I just focused and took one fight at a time.

“It was amazing to play in front of the home crowd and I just absorbed the energy and put it into the fight. Every time I heard a cheer I was getting something from it too.

“I received amazing support from my team, I could hear it throughout the day and they were giving as good as they got against the Hungarians.”

Platten beat fighters from Israel and Germany en route to the final and is now focused on supporting the rest of her team for the rest of the Festival.

Chloe Cowen Vickers, who is Platten’s coach in Hungary and competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games herself, said: “We spoke about the home crowd and I said to listen to the noise during the boys’ final prior to hers and use the noise and channel the energy.”

“I am chuffed. She worked extremely hard throughout the day. She showed good judo, good techniques and good composure, especially in the final where she was fighting the home favourite.

“We had a plan and she stuck to the plan and it really paid off. When you’re in golden score it can often take something quite special and she pulled off the most beautiful execution to a throw to secure the ippon – what a way to win.”

Team GB’s 50-strong athlete delegation is competing across six sports in Hungary and picked up a cycling time trial bronze and gymnastics boys’ team silver yesterday to add to Platten’s gold.

The event has a history of producing senior British Olympic talent with over 100 athletes graduating from Youth Olympic events and going on to compete for Team GB at the last three Olympic Games.