BINFIELD shooter Amber Hill is determined to make history at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, writes Anthony Smith.

The 18-year-old star is aiming to become the first British woman to win Olympic shooting gold after being named in the six-strong Team GB squad last week.

And though she admits the competition, especially from the Americans, will be extremely tough, she says her target is always to win the ultimate prize.

She told the News: “It’s been a really promising year for me. I always hoped I would make the GB team and to have it confirmed is brilliant. It means I can celebrate with friends and family then concentrate on being right for Rio.

“I had a phone call to tell me I had been selected then I met up with the rest of the Team GB squad and British Shooting at Bisham Abbey to talk things through.

“I have received tremendous support from everybody since the announcement and now I just can’t wait to get out there and start competing.”

And she stressed: “I always go out there to compete with the aim of winning a medal and the gold.

“Obviously things don’t always go your way, but you’ve got to try and push yourself as much as you can.

“The American team looks very promising and their shooter, Morgan Craft, won the World Championship in September.

“But there are lots of talented shooters out there on the world circuit so we know we’re going to have to be at our best.”

Hill shot to fame in 2013 when she won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

She was also named Young Sportsperson of the Year at the News-sponsored Pride of Bracknell Awards in 2014.

This year Hill has already claimed the skeet title at the inaugural European Games in June and also victory at the World Cup final in Cyprus last month.

“2013 was a fantastic year for me,” she recalled. “I had a lot of media attention for being such a young competitor on the world stage.

“Now the more support we can get for Team GB the better as it really does make a huge difference.”

She added: “I want to be in the best place I possibly can be in terms of my preparation going into the 2016 Olympic Games.

“I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure that I am. All my training plans are now in place. There will be a lot of gym work during the winter to make sure I’m physically and mentally fit.”

Hill took up the sport as a 10-year-old after her grandfather, Bill Rogers, took her shooting and she has never looked back.

“I was always very sporty,” she recalled. “Shooting was a bit different so I gave it a go with my grandad and fell in love with it.

“It’s taken me all over the world and I am very lucky to have found a sport I’m good at. I urge any young person to give it go.”

However, she also confessed: “I have been recognised a few times now in various places across the world, but I’m not really much of a celebrity outside of Binfield. I suppose that may change after Rio next year.”