Trap shooter Penny Smith's long journey to Tokyo Olympics

The 24-year-old, who was named as the south-west's latest Olympian on Friday, picked up shooting when her brother Andrew took up the sport.

Smith - who still rides horses regularly at her parents' Bookaar property - said she "fell" into trap shooting and her dedicated personality took over.

"Horse riding was my dream and my passion - I've been doing it since I was three so that was the pathway," she told The Standard.

"My brother had a motorbike accident through dirtbike racing and landed himself in hospital.

"Mum and Dad said to him 'righto, it's time to find a sport that is a bit safer'.

"So he took up clay target shooting. He was very good at it and still is very good at it.

"Full credit to him for getting me in to it."

Success at the South West Zone School Shoot and at club level helped Smith on her way and before long, she was sitting down to plan a route to the Tokyo Games.

"Growing up, it's every kid who is into sport's dream to go to the Olympics," Smith said.

"We sat down and sort of worked out a plan eight years ago, working towards Tokyo.

"People say 'how can you plan for eight years?' but I think when you want something so much you have to be structured and you have to be dedicated.

"It was always going to be a long journey and you're going to ride the highs and you're going to ride the lows.

"Here we are eight years later and I've been announced on the team. It's pretty special."

It wasn't without its hiccups.

Smith narrowly missed qualification for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 but used the heartache to motivate her Olympics bid.

She finished first in the women's trap division of the Tokyo Olympic Games nomination series - holding off experienced campaigners - to all but book her ticket to Japan.

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"I think that was my biggest setback but I think it was a blessing," she said.

"It made me work so much harder over the last couple of years and it's made me want it even more.

"It's made me even more structured and dedicated."

The swimming instructor's family are her biggest fans.

"Definitely, my shooting career wouldn't be where it is without my mum and dad," Smith said.

"They've sacrificed a lot of time driving me to and from events, travelling domestically. They've done lots of kilometres going to and from the airport. It's just special.

"We're a pretty tight knit family and we like to do a lot of things together.

"I've got to give them a lot of credit for what they've sacrificed."

Family connections will play a part in Smith's first Olympic experience.

Her mum, Kim, was a groom for seven-time equestrian Olympian Andrew Hoy in 1984.

Hoy - who is in contention for his eighth Olympics in Tokyo - could yet become a teammate to Smith.

"It's incredible to think mum was a groom for Andrew Hoy at the Los Angeles Olympics and now I might even be on the same Olympic Team as him for Tokyo," she said.

In a world without COVID-19, Smith would currently be in Japan at the Olympic Games test events.

With the event moved to July 2021, Smith was still in the process of finalising a training schedule.

"I've got nothing to lose in Tokyo. I just want to soak up the experience and make my country and family proud," she said.

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