Claire Smithson is among the top junior discus throwers on the planet.

The 17-year-old, from Hove, finished eighth in the World Junior Championships in Chile.

Claire, who belongs to the Brighton and Hove club, was eighth in the final with a throw of 50.18m in the 70,000-capacity National Stadium in Santiago.

She said: "The language in Chile is Spanish and I have been saying gracias to everyone. It was a brilliant experience for me. It was a trip of a lifetime and I learned so much.

"To be honest I thought the best I could achieve was reaching the final 12. I thought I had missed out on qualifying when I was told I was 13th, but when I found out my real position I was delighted.

"So all this has far exceeded my expectations."

The Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College pupil, speaking from her hotel in the Chilean capital, believes it was a big step towards her ultimate Olympic dream.

She said: "It gave me a taste of what the best international competitions are like.

"You have to be very disciplined and manage your time very well. I made sure I ate, trained and prepared at the right times.

"I watched the Olympics from Sydney and I noticed the spirit of Team GB. There was plenty of that here. We were all very supportive of each other.

Soggy "It was such a big thing for me with the standard of the people I was up against and I felt fine. I only got a little nervous in the final.

"The atmosphere in the stadium was good, although because it was such a big stadium, it only looked a good crowd on finals day.

"The weather conditions were great, nice and sunny, and there was even a view of the Andes thrown in.

"The food has not been that good, soggy pasta.

"There has also been the travelling to deal with.

"We flew for seven hours to Florida for a training camp and then a further eight down to Santiago. It was all part of a learning curve, hopefully, it can one day lead to the Olympics, perhaps in 2008."

Claire coped with being away from home, although her father George was there to support her.

Claire, coached by national discus coach Mike Winch and Olympian Judy Oakes, was boosted by recording a personal best of 52.19m while representing Britain in a junior international in Italy just before the Championships She began the year on 49.36m. The AAA and All England Schools champion said: "I am happy with the way things have gone."

Now Claire, one of the youngest competitors in Chile, is aiming for the 2001 European Junior Championships in Italy and the next world event in Jamaica a year later.