She was joined on top of the podium by rowing pair Fiona Gammond and Georgia Howard-Merrill, gymnast Sam Oldham, equestrian star Carian Scudamore and tennis ace Oliver Golding, who will all return home having been crowned Youth Olympic Champions in their discipline.

In addition to the gold, silver and bronze medal winning performances; the young British athletes recorded a further 25 top-ten positions, 12 of which were in the top-six, against the best in the world in their age group.

Paterson claimed success of Britain’s athletes at the Games was phenomenal but also hailed Singapore as fantastic hosts of the inaugural event.

Paterson said: "Team GB’s athletes have performed with passion, dedication and great quality here in Singapore. 

"They won medals in half of the sports in which we participated, demonstrating a real breadth of potential, and in achieving 25 further top-ten places, on top of the 13 medals won, our athletes have shown there is a depth of talent ready to be nurtured along the journey towards future Olympic Games.

"I’m delighted that our athletes have fully embraced and enjoyed the wider Youth Olympic Games experience; including the mixed nations sport competitions, and the culture and education programme activities.

"They have learnt important lessons about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect and taken part in cultural exchanges with 3,600 fellow competitors from around the globe.

"The experience gained at the Youth Olympic Games will greatly benefit the development of these young athletes. 

"I have no doubt they will now be better prepared for the demands they will face in progressing their careers through to senior international, and ultimately, Olympic level.

"Singapore has put on an outstanding inaugural Youth Olympic Games and Team GB’s 39 young athletes have played their part in making Olympic history with distinction."

As well as competing in Singapore, every member of Team GB participated in the Culture and Education Programme (CEP) of the first Youth Olympic Games.

This programme is a fundamental part of the Youth Olympic Games experience, enabling the athletes to understand more about the five nominated themes of Olympism, health and well-being, social responsibility and skill development.

These themes have been developed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Singapore Organising Committee to help athletes understand more about the Olympic Movement, as well as connecting with, and appreciating more about the cultures of the other participants from the 204 competing nations at the Youth Olympic Games.

Howard-Merrill said: "From the CEP we learned all sorts of things about different cultures and about many large issues facing the world today both within sport and outside of sport."

Meanwhile, on the unofficial medal table, which does not register medals won in mixed nation events, Britain finished in 17th place.

China topped the medal table with 51 medals and 30 golds, Russia were second with 43 medals and 18 golds while South Korea picked up third place with 19 medals and 11 golds.

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