The 18-year-old Bugbrooke triathlete, who is only one successful race away from reaching the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has been nominated for the Walker's Home Grown Talent Award at the ceremony in London next week.

She is up against one other sports person – acclaimed 14-year-old diver Tom Daley – but other hopefuls in the category are Brandon Lawrence, a 15-year-old ballet dancer; 19-year-old entrepreneur Fraser Doherty; and Nicolas Hoult, an 18-year-old actor best known for his roles in About A Boy and Skins.

Student Hollie, who is in her final year of A-levels at Campion School in Bugbrooke, said: "It's been something to look forward to and it reminds me of my achievements.

"It is great news for me and for sport as well. I think sport needs to be recognised more throughout the UK."

Hollie was back in her home village this week to take part in an Adidas photoshoot at Bugbrooke Community Centre and Campion School, ahead of this summer's Olympics.

But she added she did have a tiny bit of time to unwind in her busy schedule.

She said: "I'm watching Desperate Housewives on DVD at the moment. I like to sit downstairs with a hot chocolate and watch that, it really helps me to relax.

"Going running and biking in particularly does help calm my mind.
"I don't feel pressured and I don't feel stressed which is good and I've got a great support team around me.

"My friends are quite level-headed about it all. I don't want them to get too excited until I know whether I've definitely qualified or not.

"Everyone is busy with their A-levels at the moment which is nice because I can get my head down and get on with revising."

To vote for Hollie Avil in the Britain's Best Awards, log on to www.thesun.co.uk between May 12 and 17.

The ceremony will be filmed on Friday and will be shown on ITV1 on Friday, May 23 at 9pm.

Hollie's website, www.hollieavil.com is now live for all the latest news on her achievements and Olympic progress.