The cold reality of high school exams made sure Keely Small's feet landed firmly when she arrived back in Canberra after winning a youth Olympic Games gold medal in Argentina.
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But the middle-distance runner is looking beyond her studies to set her sights on making her senior Olympic debut in 2020 after a whirlwind year of highs.
Small has been nominated as a finalist for the ACT sport awards junior athlete of the year, with the winner to be announced at a function on November 30.
The 17-year-old announced herself on the international stage this year - first at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and then by leading Australia's youth Olympic campaign.
The taste of international senior competition and the reward of a youth gold medal has lit the fuse for Small to chase selection at the Tokyo Games in two years. But first she has to complete her Year 11 exams at St Clare's College.
"It was weird timing to come back and get straight into school. I've missed a bit of school this year, but they've been really good about it," Small said.
"They've shuffled some exams around for what I have to do, but now it's time to knuckle down for my school work. Then I can have a break for the holidays."
Small's break won't be for long, though. She will compete in the Australian summer of athletics and has no intention of slowing down after a remarkable year.
Small set an Australian under-20s 800 metres record when she stopped the clock at 2:00.81, justifying her selection on the team.
She then carried the flag into the youth Olympic opening ceremony in front of an estimated 250,000 people, and showed no signs of succumbing to pressure to win gold after a two-race finals series.
"This has put everything in perspective that I'm a realistic chance for that Tokyo [Olympic] team," Small said.
"Having initiation at the Comm [Games], the experience there ... last season was up and down but I've come good from that and it was amazing on the Gold Coast.
"The youth Olympics is an amazing stepping stone. I had the choice to do the world under-20s this year or youth Olympics and everyone said to do the Olympics. To come away with that gold medal, it really has sparked that dream."
The sports awards introduced a junior category this year and it was inundated with applicants from a wide range of sports.
In the end the nominations were cut to five finalists, with Small to compete with Australian under-20s rugby union captain Ryan Lonergan, golf prodigy Adam Thorp, tennis star Annerly Poulos and Canberra United young gun Karly Roestbakken.
They will be a part of the awards ceremony, which will also crown the male and female athlete of the year, the team of the year and the para sport athlete of the year.
World No. 38 tennis player Nick Kyrgios is a finalist for the male athlete award alongside indoor cricket star Matthew Floros and rower Caleb Antill.
Winter Olympian Laura Peel, triathlete Penny Slater and cyclist Chloe Hosking are in contention for the individual female award, while the ACT Rockets, Canberra Brave and Vice City Rollers are team of the year finalists.
Small has just started her international career but is tipped by many to be one Australia's leading athletes for a long time.
"I always set my goals pretty high ... making a senior team and then getting the medal has already started things," Small said.
"We have a lot of strong junior athletes coming up and a lot of junior talent. Melissa Breen and Lauren Wells have always been awesome for me, we shared an apartment at the Commonwealth Games and I learnt a lot from that.
"I'm just trying to get a good base of training now for the domestic season and hopefully I can have some good races to make that world championship team next year."
