The Cyprus Olympic Committee hosted it's annual awards ceremony for 2018 at their Olympic House ©KOE

The Cyprus Olympic Committee has hosted its annual awards ceremony for the country’s top youth athletes at their Olympic House in Nicosia.

Discus thrower Giorgos Koniarakis and rhythmic gymnast Diamanto Evripidou were the big winners at the event as they were named the top teenage athletes in individual sports.

Koniarakis gained his award after winning the Under-23 Mediterranean Games and finishing seventh at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Under-20 Championships in Tampere

He has since turned 20, but was eligible for the award having been 19 for the vast majority of 2018.

Sotiris Siapanis, right, and Georgia Stavrinidou, centre, were named the top young athletes in team sports ©KOE
Sotiris Siapanis, right, and Georgia Stavrinidou, centre, were named the top young athletes in team sports ©KOE

Evripidou meanwhile, who is 18, gained the women’s award after winning two individual gold medals and four titles in total at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

As well as winning gold medals, in both the hoop and ball events in Australia, she also secured a silver in the ribbon event and a bronze in the clubs competition.

The top young athletes in team sports were named as two volleyball players Sotiris Siapanis and Georgia Stavrinidou.