BINFIELD shooter Amber Hill says she has her eyes on Tokyo 2020 after getting back from a “crazy” two weeks competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Hill, 19, made her Olympic debut in the women’s skeet shooting and reached the final six before falling just short of a medal.
But the teenager says she has nothing but positive memories from her time in South America.
“It was crazy,” she told The Wokingham Paper.
“The opening ceremony was incredible as well.
“I was literally standing behind flag bearer Andy Murray walking out.
“Moments like that were just insane.”
And Hill revealed it was not until the last moment did she realise she would be walking out into the Maracana in the front row of Team GB for the opening ceremony.
“I was actually called forward,” she recalled.
“I’m not sure whether it was because I’m too short so nobody would be able to see me or what!
“I was called up to the front which was just a massive thing for me.
“In other opening ceremonies I’ve done I’m normally stood behind the tallest person there.
“To be at the front behind Andy Murray was just a massive honour.
“I really did get the most of that experience.”
Hill, who is now also a fully qualified beauty therapist after studying at the Beauty Academy in Reading, admits she did hope to get her hands on a medal.
But given the strength of the opposition, the European Games gold medallist was satisfied with her debut.
“I was actually really happy I made the final,” she said.
“Finishing in sixth, it’s not what you go there to do.
“I was definitely going there to win gold but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.
“But I was really happy with making the final.
“I think it’s just great experience for me for future Olympics as well because the amount of nerves I had was something I’d never encountered before.
“Hopefully I can use it as a positive and move on to Tokyo in four years time and just remember everything I’ve learnt from Rio.”
After reaching the front row for the opening ceremony and reaching the final of her event, Hill’s experience in Brazil was rounded off perfectly as she celebrated her birthday on the same day as the closing ceremony.
“It couldn’t have fallen on a better day!” she said.
“It was so cool to have my birthday on the closing ceremony.
“It’s just like a massive party really.
“To have your birthday on the same day is pretty special.
“It’s definitely a 19th I’m going to remember!”
Ever since the Olympics in London, Hill had her eyes set on competing in Rio.
She holds such affinity with the Games that she even got the Olympic rings tattooed on her leg after returning to England.
And now Hill’s focus has turned fully to preparing for Tokyo.
“I’m 100% definitely going for the next one in Tokyo,” she said.
“It’s just back to a lot of hard work and training and just doing everything I can to make the result happen because it is four years for not even half a day really.
“It’s a lot of hard work and dedication but for the feeling you get when you’re stood out there in front of the crowd and on the telly, it’s nothing you can compare to so I’ll definitely be going for Tokyo.”
