Camperdown is currently 19th in the medal tally after two locals won medals

A small town in western Victoria has achieved a better start to the Olympic Games than 180 countries around the world. We discover their secret to producing sporting stars.

Grace Brown (pictured) and Penny Smith have won two medals. Both are from Camperdown in western Victoria.(Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

The small town of Camperdown, in Victoria’s south west, might be home to slightly more than 3000 people but it’s punching above its weight at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Camperdown has produced two medallists in the first few days of the Olympic Games with Grace Brown winning gold in the women’s cycling time trial on Saturday before Penny Smith added a bronze on Wednesday night in the women’s trap shooting.

With Brown expected to race in the upcoming women’s road race the town could add more medals over the next few days.

Famous for its farming, tourism and nature with mountains, lakes and craters nearby, Camperdown is currently tied for 19th in the Olympic Medal tally, beating more than 180 countries, most with populations in the millions.

The likes of Spain, Brazil, Mexico and the creators of the Olympics, Greece, are lagging behind Camperdown.

“How good is that,” owner of the Commercial Hotel in Camperdown Donna Conheady said.

So could it run as a country on it’s own?

“Well we’d be self sufficient in relation to vegetation and meat,” she said, jokingly.

“We’d have eggs and milk and there is plenty of water around.”

Of course, being a country is nothing short of a pipe dream, but the rest of the country could learn a thing or two from the town.

Camperdown Newsagency owner Shane McCann said the area allowed people to pursue their goals.

Grace Brown collecting her gold medal on Saturday. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Bronze medallist Australia's Penny Smith poses on the podium of the shooting trap women's final. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

“It gives them the will to work hard and chase your dreams,” he said.

“Just be determined and set your goals and the girls have been magnificent in their endeavours to do it.

“We’re doing well to punch above our weight.

“It’s been really good in that aspect and has given the town a boost.

“It’s put us up in the headlights a little bit.

“And everyone has been really happy and it has boosted everyone up around town.

“It’s given them a spark.”

None more so than the Commercial Hotel who were cheering for one of their own in Smith.

When she isn’t conquering the world in trap shooting, she’s working as a casual at the pub.

“She’s been with us nearly two years,” Conheady said.

“She came in one day with her mum and dad and had a coffee and asked if I had any work going.

“The relationship has just blossomed from there.”

The hotel got into the spirit of Smith and the Olympics by dressing up the pub with green and gold colours, the Australian flag and posters of the 29-year-old.

There were staff watching Smith perform at the pub and at home as she went on to win bronze.

Unfortunately the hotel was closed when her event finished.

The Commercial Hotel’s message on their television after Camperdown's Penny Smith won bronze. Picture: Mel Van den Eynde

The decorations at the Commercial Hotel to cheer on Camperdown's Penny Smith. Picture: Mel Van den Eynde

But it didn’t stop the team celebrating hard.

“It’s pretty insane, it’s awesome, we’re so proud of Penny,” Conheady said.

“It’s been lovely to be on the journey with her, working with her schedule.

“The nerves of steel she has and how she goes about it is a credit to her.”

And while she might be an Olympic medallist now, Smith will be back at the hotel soon.

“She’s born and bred here and loves the town,” Commercial Hotel assistant venue manager

Mel Van den Eynde said.

“She’s already told us when to put her on the rosters.

“We’ll definitely be getting around her when she gets back.”

So what makes the town special with producing quality sports athletes?

The local football team, Camperdown Football Netball Club, has won six premierships in the Hampden league, which sees the team competing against the strength of Warrnambool’s best teams.

And the town has produced AFL stars Sam Welsh and Scott Lucas with current Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Western Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood also coming from the town.

It’s also produced other Olympians including Clyde Sefton, Kevin Bradshaw and Bill Roycroft.

Conheady said the good country fresh air and the healthy rivalry in sport between the towns and cities allows Camperdown to impress.

“(Camperdown football players) always say it is God’s country down here and welcome to football,” Conheady said.

“There is plenty of banter between the (local) clubs.”

Brown competes in the road race on Sunday.