EAST Lancashire’s latest world champion, Samantha Murray, is targeting the 2016 Rio Olympics after making the most of her month off following success in Warsaw.

The 25-year-old, from Clitheroe, was crowned modern pentathlon world champion at the start of September after a ‘tough year’ in which she considered walking away from the sport at one point.

Since getting her hands on her first senior gold medal Murray has been enjoying the prestige it brings, as well as a well-earned holiday.

“I’ve had a month off training and went on holiday with my friend to Ibiza,” said Murray. “Then I’ve been back home spending time my with my friends and family.”

She appeared on the live Sky Sports’ show for children, Game Changers, and also received an invite to the iconic end-of-year jamboree that celebrates British sporting success for the year.

“I got my invite to Sports Personality of the Year this week so there are some nice, exciting things coming up,” she said.

At one point it didn’t look like 2014 would end with a world title and an invite to Glasgow, the venue for this year’s glitzy awards ceremony.

Since taking silver in the 2012 London Olympics Murray has struggled for form, finishing out of the medals in the two subsequent European Championships, and only coming home 14th in last year’s World Championships.

“It is hard when you’ve had success to carry it on,” she said.

“When things are going wrong you question why and what is happening, it’s only a short time and a short career as an athlete.

“You never know when it is going to be over, I was putting in the hours in training but I wasn’t getting the same results.

“You have to question what you are doing, but I knew if I did quit I would have to get a job. I’m not in a sport like football when you can just do nothing when you retire with millions in the bank.

“I was still enjoying it and I worked really hard, I was training at altitude and I managed to turn it around.”

Her gold medal performance in Poland featured a record 200m freestyle swim and has catapulted her back into the frame for major titles.

She is back in Bath, where she is based at Pentathlon GB’s National Training Centre, and is beginning preparations for a busy 2015.

As well as looking to defend her world title Murray has one eye on the European Championships, which take place in Bath and give her an opportunity to secure qualification for Rio at the first attempt.

“I’ve got my first World Cup in Florida in February which is nice to be involved in, then I have the World Championships in June in Berlin,” added Murray.

“The European Championships are the first event where I can qualify for the Olympics, and they are taking place in Bath where I train.

“It is about looking forward to Rio now. Next year is all about qualifying and then if that is done I can start looking at the Olympics.”