HER Olympic dream came closer to reality when top pistol shooter Georgina Geikie from South Tawton won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last week.

It is the second Commonwealth medal for Georgina, or 'Gorgs' as she is known, after her success in the 2006 games in Melbourne. On both occasions she has won a bronze in the 25-metre sports pistol pairs with Julia Lydall.

As the Times went to press, Gorgs was competing in the individual air pistol event.

Winning a bronze was 'just awesome' she told the Times this week: 'Standing on the podium and watching the flags being raised in front of the crowds was just the most amazing feeling.

'Getting all the texts, emails and messages from home was overwhelming. I'm just so thankful for all the support people have given me at home.

'My bedroom wall here in Delhi is covered with good luck cards that I brought with me. I'm just so chuffed to bring a bronze back home to Devon.'

Among the supporters was modern pentathlete Heather Fell, from Merrivale, who won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and is a long time friend of Gorgs.

Heather, who knows what it's like to feel the pressure, said: 'Gorgs has remained really focussed and has done tremendously well. Shooting is popular in India so there was a great atmosphere down there.

'Despite all the criticism in the media Gorgs and the other athletes have said good things about the Games village and that it compares well with other games.'

Gorgs narrowly missed out on the final of the individual sports pistol and in the air pistol pairs with Julia she came fifth.

Gorgs has been competing on the world stage for the last four years, but shooting since she was very young. She started off in pony club tetrathlon then modern pentathlon but decided on a single discipline at which she excelled.

After gaining a university degree in product design, Gorgs has juggled her rigorous training schedule with three part-time jobs, waitressing at the Fingle Bridge Inn, Drewsteignton and the Ring O' Bells in Chagford and exercising her neighbour's horse.

Her mother, Patience, said this week she was very proud of her daughter's performance at the Games: 'Gorgs is totally devoted to her sport and she put her career on hold for it.

'She has been given this wonderful opportunity and she just gets better and better. Her big aim is to go to London 2012. We are very proud of her and backing her all the way.'

Gorgs has trained and competed all over the world and won numerous titles but she still remains a member of the Okehampton Smallbore Club and shoots in the local and Devon leagues. She is sponsored by Gregory Distribution at North Tawton and Helpful Holidays at Chagford.

PR manager for Helpful Holidays Helen Hayes said: 'Georgina is doing a fantastic job. We are so impressed with her determination and focus.

'We are delighted at her success at the Commonwealth Games and it represents another huge step forward in her ultimate goal of winning gold in the 2012 Olympics.'