Charlotte Kerwood wants to restore British sporting pride against Australia and secure an Olympic place while revising for her GCSEs.

The Sussex schoolgirl who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in shooting has a modest manner disguised by a permanent smile.

She was "embarrassed" when she had to stand before her schoolmates at her house assembly following her ladies' double trap success in the clay pigeon events at Bisley aged 15.

Charlotte, now sweet 16, smiled and giggled slightly as the subject of revenge for England's defeats at cricket, tennis and even football came up as we sat sipping tea outside the clubhouse on her home range, bathed in weak sunshine.

At first she said of the rivalry: "I'm not bothered. I didn't see the football, although when I heard I thought it was quite funny."

Then her competitive nature glinted through her eyes which steeled over as she had second thoughts She said: "It would be nice to beat them (the Australians) at shooting. I'm going to do my best. I like the competitions rather than the practice."

Victory in the World Cup Series event in Perth this month will secure her a place on the plane to Athens 2004.

And she flew out Down Under yesterday knowing the Aussies would be a major threat.

She said: "They've got some good shooters. I'm hoping they don't recognise me. They might say 'She's the girl who won the Commonwealth Games' and that might fire them up. Maybe I'll put a wig on to make myself look different."

Maybe she should. Her profile following her Games triumph last August has increased to the extent that she has been bracketed alongside England footballer Wayne Rooney, who made his full debut in that against Australia, at the televised end-of-the-year BBC Sports Awards.

As Rooney chewed gum and remained impassive while receiving the Young Sports Person of the Year award, Charlotte sat three rows back as one of the three nominees alongside Commonwealth Games silver-medal winning gymnast Becky Owen.

Charlotte said: "I didn't speak to Wayne. In fact I hadn't heard of him because I don't really follow football, apart from David Beckham! But my mates told me about him.

"I nearly didn't go to the ceremony. I was ill and felt miserable. I'm glad I went, though. It was good being in a studio full of world famous sporting people although I was disappointed David Beckham didn't show up. I like him."

She has become an awards ceremony regular. Charlotte took the BBC South Young Sports Personality of the Year title in Southampton and a similar trophy at the Sussex Awards at the Grand Hotel on Brighton and Hove seafront.

Charlotte is having fun with her level of celebrity.

"It's nice. I've got an Australian fan who asked for a signed picture. When it first came through I thought it was a joke.

"After I won at Bisley there were some little kids who had been watching me shooting and asked me to sign their England flag. That was nice."

The aspect of fame she enjoys is the positive image it gives her maligned sport which has come under pressure since the Dunblane tragedy.

"It helps shooting. There are a lot of negative views towards shooting. What I've done gets people to recognise that it is not a dangerous sport."

It has also secured sponsorship from Gatwick Rail Services and RC Cartridges, while being on the Clay Pigeon Shooting Club Association's world class performance scheme has also helped to allay the annual expense that can total close to £7,000.

"I'm grateful for it all because my parents have had to find a lot of the money, like the £3,000 I needed to buy the Perazzi gun I used in the Games - and that was only second hand."

Her feet remain rooted to the ground with the help of support of friends, family and her school, Warden Park school in Cuckfield.

"No one's attitude to me among the people I know has changed. When I first saw my mates after winning the gold they were going 'Oh my God.' But that was only for a few minutes. They still call me Char and some come up the range for a shoot.

"My school still expect me to do my homework "I've got nine GCSEs in the summer and I've got revision notes to get through while I'm in Australia and when I come back I've got study leave, although the school have been good about have time off to compete.

"My family have been fantastic."

Charlotte lives with brother Daniel, mum Jan, dad Dan, two golden retrievers, Benson and Jake, and a Turkish mastiff, appropriately named Oz. They are based in mobile homes on their 86-acres while they seek permission to build a five-bedroomed family home on the site of a lodge-sized building.

A brief, bobbly drive up the hill took us to the Northall Farm Shooting Club with its range and cosy clubhouse.

Milling around are friends, family and members. Charlotte's grandfather Ernie is so proud. He said: "She's taken to double trap like a duck to water."

Others ask Charlotte about Australia and she gushes: "I can't wait."

It will be hard for the thrill to match the one she experienced on August 1 last year when, six months after taking up the discipline, she took the double trap gold.

"Even now I can't quite believe it happen. I'm a bit of a fidget and I had to calm myself down as I completed competition. Others knew I'd won before I did because I was quite a a long way ahead.

"When I found out I just stood there not knowing what to do as people hugged me. It was nice."

She won the European Junior Championships and the British, English and, on her 16th birthday on September 15, Welsh senior crowns last year.

She has rested and concentrated on practice since then with the Europeans and world championships on her schedule for the year besides the World Cup.

Her dad, who runs the Northall Farm club, said: "Myself and coach Terry Allan packed a couple of years into six months before the Games so it was important to let her unwind."

But Charlotte is bored without competition. She is refreshed and raring to go back to it.

She is clearly at home on the range. Even if, for the next few days, it is a 24-hour flight away from her Fletching home.