Albany Olympian sets sights on Rio

Age and isolation is no barrier for Sonja Johnson after the Albany-based Olympian gained selection to represent Australia at her third World Equestrian Games.

Johnson's selection in the Australian eventing team for the games in Normandy, France in August will kick-start her bid for a second Olympic Games appearance in Rio in 2016.

Ranked sixth in the world and the highest ranked female, Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison will be one of six horse and rider combinations.

The 2008 Beijing silver medallist and South Stirling farmer said she was prepared after gruelling qualifying events.

Johnson had to compete at the Sydney International three-day event in April and the Melbourne International Horse Trials in June.

"It's very nice to be able to wave the flag for Albany again," she said.

"It's the highest world ranking I have ever had.

"That's the funny thing about my sport is as you get older you keep getting better, you learn more and it's not just a physical game, it's a mental game.

"When it's not going right I tend not to get so emotionally involved and I can distance myself from it more which means my performance improves."

Johnson has eyed the world games since she missed selection for the 2012 London Games after fighting back from a broken pelvis.

With a second Olympic appearance still in her sights, Johnson said her experience would count in her favour at the World Equestrian Games next month.

"Come 2015 I will start another whole campaign focused on Rio," she said.

"The older you get, the more time you have spent in the saddle so therefore the more knowledge you have on training the horses, producing the horses and getting them out there for competitions."