Macarthur region athletes blitz tally at Australian Youth Olympic Festival

THE Macarthur region's Australian Youth Olympic Festival medal tally is all gold and silver thanks to four athletes.

Youth Olympics

THE Macarthur region's Australian Youth Olympic Festival medal tally is all gold and silver after our four athletes dominated in their events.

Harrington Park cyclist Josie Talbot blitzed the track, winning gold medals in the women's team pursuit, women's omnium and 5km scratch events.

Mt Annan rhythmic gymnast Michaela Whitehouse also brought home gold after taking out team event and the individual all-round competition.

Cobbitty shooter James Grice won silver in the men's trap event and Liam Cunneen silver in the pool.

Cunneen, 17, who trains at Atlantis Aquatic Centre in Smeaton Grange, helped the Australian team to a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

The festival was 16-year-old Talbot's first international competition.

"I'm absolutely stoked with the results in my first-ever international event. To win gold in such a competitive field is amazing but I didn't expect to perform so well," she said.

The Elderslie High School student said the medals were a vital confidence boost. "I've got the track national championships in a few days and those results gave me the belief I can compete on a world stage."

Whitehouse attributed her success to a strict training schedule. "I was training four hours a day in the lead-up to the festival and it really paid off," she said.

"I focused on the simple things, such as holding my balance and finishing pivots, because I knew they would help me under pressure," she added.