WINDSOR hockey star Olivia Chilton's Australian Youth Olympic Festival might have been a rollercoaster ride but she admits she loved every minute of it all the same.

The 18-year-old strutted her stuff as part of the Great Britain's women's team down under on the same hockey pitches used for the Sydney Olympics back in 2000.

However, Chilton and co could not mark the occasion with a fast start as they lost their opening two games to hosts Australia and China, meaning the gold medal was out of reach.

Still they rallied to beat USA 5-0 in their final round-robin game before facing off against the same opponents 24 hours later in the bronze-medal match.

Britain found the going far tougher second time around and needed a Hannah Martin golden goal to squeeze past the Americans 2-1 and take home the bronze.

And, although they were made to work for it, Windsor teenager Chilton insists it made the taste of victory all the more sweeter when it finally arrived.

"Although we had our ups and downs it feels absolutely amazing to win the bronze medal," she said.

"To get that goal in extra time from Hannah was such an amazing experience and when the ball finally went over the line it was a huge relief.

"After the 5-0 win against USA the day before we were all a bit shocked that we found it tougher going second time around but we got through in the end and that's all that matters.

"Even though we lost our first two games and had players go down with injuries we stayed together as a team and you saw that when we all ran on the pitch to celebrate Hannah's goal.

"As a team we had some ups and downs but we stuck at it, stayed as a team and it was a great way to finish."

This was Chilton's first taste of an Olympic-style event and she admitted it had well and truly wet her appetite to do it for real in the future.

"When we get back we have the World Cup coming up so we'll all be training hard for that," she added.

"But you can't help but look further forward now and this has definitely given me added inspiration for the Rio Olympics in 2016 for sure.

"That's the long-term aim now. This has given me a taste of what it will be like but on a smaller scale and I'll be doing my best to get there."

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out Friday, for all the latest sports news and action, including a Youth Olympic Festival special** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twittter @Observer_sports**