PENNY Smith's goal to book a spot at the Paris Olympics in three years' time is fuelling her desire to compete internationally on a regular basis again.
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The Australian trap shooter estimates she's travelled to 13 countries - most recently Japan for the postponed Tokyo Games - throughout her career.
But the COVID-19 pandemic meant the Bookaar-raised athlete was restricted to Australian shores in the lead-up to her first Olympic Games, where she finished sixth in both the women's individual and mixed team finals.
"Hopefully we can get overseas next year and maybe spend an extended period of time over in Europe to have some consistent, high-quality competition," Smith told The Standard's Main Break podcast.
"Being in that high-pressure situation in finals, we haven't been getting that in Australia so getting overseas and consolidating big performances is something I want to do."
Now Smith, more than halfway through her 14-day Darwin-based quarantine period for returned travellers, is planning for more flights.
The world championships are in 2022 but a destination is yet to be finalised.
"It's a massive event for us. It is the start of the new cycle and an opportunity to win quotas for the 2024 Olympics," Smith said.
"We have to start a new chapter, leading to Paris, which is the main event we're focussing on for now.
"A couple of people said to me before I went to Tokyo that it would change my life and perspective on shooting and you take people's comments for what they are.
"As I reflect now, it certainly has. I am that driven and passionate to make some changes and get on with it and get to Paris."
Smith said "all roads lead to Paris".
Unfortunately Shooting Australia won't have a pitstop in London next year with the sport canned from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
"As times change and they bring in more sports and take out some sports, I guess it's just the luck of the draw," she said.
"Shooting was one of those sports which took its turn.
"We haven't heard too much, just notified it was taken out of the Commonwealth Games and India were going to pick it up and have a makeshift event.
"But unfortunately with the current situation of COVID that has been cancelled."
Smith learned lessons from her Olympic debut which she described as a "whirlwind".
"I had to distance myself from my phone and social media side of things because I think for me it was becoming a bit of a distraction," she reflected.
"Not that it was a bad thing, just that I felt I needed to focus on what I needed to do and remain calm.
"There were a few nerves but I had to embrace them, I couldn't fight them or else it would've made it worse."
Twenty-six athletes competed in the women's trap competition. The top-six, who shot at 125 targets across two days, advanced to the final.
Smith was one of those.
"Going into the second day of competition I certainly did feel a bit of pressure," she said.
"I didn't look at the scores between day one and day two of where I was ranked but I knew the scores were big because Zuzana (Rehak Stefecekova), who won, shot next to me the first day.
"To come off my last round and have the national coach say to me 'fair chance you'll be in the final, just not sure what bib number', I said to him a couple of times 'are you sure the scores are correct?'
"To be able to step out into the final was a really, really special feeling."
Special moments included competing in the mixed competition with Tom Grice and enjoying the village atmosphere despite restrictions in place.
"The vibe was still pumping, the village was still pumping," Smith said.
"I was fortunate enough to catch up with Andrew Hoy which was really nice and I had a couple of chats with him.
"With the history of my mum (Kim) going to the Olympic games with him in '84, that was really special.
"I got a photo with Ash Barty so that was awesome. That was a special moment as well considering the wonderful sportsperson Ash is."
Now Smith is resting in quarantine in Darwin.
When she gets back to Victoria, having spent time in Queensland and Northern Territory prior to the games, it will be "three months since the day I left home".
Quarantine isn't too bad - movies, exercise and virtual catch-ups are filling in the days.
There's been a bingo night and her parents have sent up "snacks and treats".
"I sit on the balcony, have my teammates around me and we have a bit of banter and talk a bit of rubbish," Smith said.
Homecoming will be special with Smith eager to see those who have followed her journey the most - mum Kim, dad Michael, brother Andrew and partner Callum Rowe.
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