READING rower Lucy Cruxton insists she enjoyed the trip of a lifetime at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival after visiting the podium twice Down Under.

The 19-year-old had to wait until Saturday and the penultimate day of the Festival to strut her stuff at the Sydney international Regatta Centre - venue for rowing at the 2000 Olympics.

But there was agony when Cruxton finally got underway as, alongside Maxie Scheske, she finished just short of the podium in the women's lightweight double scull - finishing fourth.

Cruxton, however, blew that disappointment out of the water on Sunday when she helped Great Britain's women's quadruple scull to silver before returning hours later to pick up bronze in the eight.

And having opened her regatta in the worst possible way Cruxton, who attends the University of Reading, was delighted to be able to finish on a high.

"I'm really pleased with how the regatta went on a whole and to leave an Olympic competition with two medals is a good result," she said.

"Maxie and I were a bit gutted with how we started because we just missed out on a medal in the pairs but I'm pleased with how we bounced back.

"We did everything we could in the eight just to get the bronze because all the girls from the other crews all stepped up.

"We knew the final would be faster than the heats, and everyone in our crew stepped up as much as they could. Wwe did everything we could and I'm happy with the bronze medal.

"But winning the silver in the morning was my highlight of the Games. It was such an amazing feeling as we had all worked so hard for it."

This was Cruxton's first taste of an Olympic-style event and the Reading teenager admitted the success had left her hungry for more.

"Although I've done a lot of rowing regattas before this was the first time I was involved in a multi-sport event and I really enjoyed it," she added.

"It's great to represent Team GB with the Olympic rings on your kit and now I've done it I just want to do it again and again now."

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