BASINGSTOKE-born epee fencer Leonora Mackinnon has been inspired by her experience in Rio and is now determined to make it to Tokyo in four years time.

On her Olympic debut the 22-year-old made it through to the last 32 in the Rio Olympics, before being beaten by silver medallist and current World Champion Rossella Flamingo from Italy.

Mackinnon represented Canada in Brazil and was the youngest fencer in the field and lost out 15-8 in her second fight in the competition.

Earlier on in the day, she beat Simona Pop from Romania 15-10, thanks to a great second session Having taken an early 3-1 lead, Mackinnon was pegged back to 3-3 at the first interval.

However, after the break she stormed into a 10-5 lead and never looked in trouble from then on.

Talking about her experience McKinnon said: “I am very happy with the way I fenced, especially in my first fight. We only found out on the fourth that I would be fencing Pop and I was nervous about the outcome as she is a very experienced and good fencer.

“The olympics is a difficult competition to prepare for especially the warm up on the morning of competition because you don’t have your normal training partners with you and you have to find other people and other ways to warm up.

When we were waiting to be presented on the piste my coach was there with me keeping me calm and reminding me to just have fun and enjoy it. I think this really helped me to be relaxed and in control during my first fight.”

She added: “I don’t think I could have fenced that first fight any better apart from maybe at the end I got a little too excited and tried to finish it early rather than being patient. My second fight I think I let the nerves get to me a bit. Fliamingo is a very experienced and excellent fencer. Two time defending world champion and now Olympic silver medallist. I was a bit disappointed in the way I fenced her. I think I kind of froze a bit and stopped moving but I’m happy to have lost to such a great fencer.

“I really enjoyed the whole experience and it has definitely given me more inspiration to go for Tokyo in four years time.

“Being in the village is an absolutely incredible experience. I was able to go and watch other sports and get the full experience of being here in the village.”