Sophie '“ There's more to come from me yet!

Great Britain's Sophie Hitchon in action during the Women's Hammer final, during day six of the IAAF World Championships at the Beijing National Stadium, China. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday August 27, 2015. See PA story ATHLETICS World. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No transmission of sound or moving images and no video simulation. Call 44 (0)1158 447447 for further information

Her competitive nature meant Sophie Hitchon was disappointed to finish just outside the medals at the European Championships in Amsterdam last weekend.

But in the cold light of day, fourth place in the hammer, on the back of fourth at the World Championships in Beijing last year, was another step in the right direction for the 25-year-old.

And the former Wellfield and Ivy Bank pupil feels there is much more to come, with the Olympic Games to follow in Rio next month.

All six of her throws were over 70m in Amsterdam, with her fifth round effort of 71.59 her best, and Sophie – currently ranked fifth in the world – looked back on another big performance on the international stage: “Obviously coming fourth again was disappointing, and I felt I could have thrown further.

“But I was pleased with my series and the competition in general.

“On reflection I couldn’t be too disappointed.

“The emotions are quite raw when you compete, it can feel like it’s going better or worse than it actually is, but you have to look at it rationally and realistically, and it was a good series.”

Sophie was third best European at the Worlds last year, behind world record holder – and World and European champion – Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland, beating former world record holder Betty Heidlerof Germany.

Heidler responded by taking silver in Amsterdam, but with Europeans dominating the event – bar the likes of China’s Zhang Wenxiu and Zheng Wang, the competition was a decent barometer for Rio, and Sophie said: “There are a lot of really consistent girls, who are all fairly close together. I’ve come up against them again and again and I’m used to being in that sort of company now.

“It’s nice to have the confidence that I have beaten some of the girls a few times.

“It was intimidating facing some of the girls a few years ago, but I’ve learned so much.

“I’ve been competing at this level since 2011, and a lot of the girls are older than me, more towards their thirties, and I feel there’s a lot more in me yet.”

There is no rest for Sophie on the back of Amsterdam, as she returned to training on Monday, ahead of Wednesday’s official Team GB track and field team announcement at Loughborough, but she is focused on Rio: “I’vce got a block of training now, then a holding camp close to Rio.

“It’s the last push now, looking at the finer details.”