IT’S been an eventful 12 months for Wirral’s Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek.

Having become a media star after winning her gold in the Rio Games, received an MBE from the Queen for services to entertainment and charity and being chosen as an advocate for sport on the “Grand Women’s Summit Panel” Sam’s life has been turned upside down – in the good way.

She’s now preparing for her role as Ladies Day ambassador at this year’s Grand National.

Sam, 28, and still living in Heswall told the Globe: “Since the Olympics it’s been manic and then leaving I’m A Celebrity it was only in the new year when everything settled down but I’m so fortunate to have all these opportunities.

“I can pick and choose what I want to do from my diary and I don’t have to say yes to everything.

“There’s a few things lined up commercial deals which are being announced soon so that’s very exciting I’m still enjoying coaching and speaking to the youngsters.

“There’s an opportunity to work with a radio station and I’ve been doing some presenting for LFC TV so I feel I’m in a really good place at the moment just embracing where I want to be.

“Being on the the Grand Women’s Summit I am very passionate about speaking about women in sport – the fact that there’s going to be people speaking about women in business and media as well.

“ I think it gives a broader insight of things and you know there’s going to be women watching and possibly some guys.

“But it’s not just that, going into youth clubs schools, telling them about what I’ve been through is really important especially to young girls.

“If I can appeal to one or one hundred girls then that would just be amazing.”

Sam revealed she is contemplating her sporting future: “Hockey-wise, I suppose that’s the conversation I’m going to have with the coach when he comes back from South Africa.

“Hopefully we can arrange a date for when I want to get back into the squad but it’s more of a physical thing but going back it’s looking likely for the world cup which is in summer of 2018.

“I’ve definitely got another cycle in me, but it does take a lot out of you mentally and physically.”

Sam Quek featuring in Carpool Karaoke with fellow Ladies Day ambassadors soprano Laura Wright and champion jockey Katie Walsh.

After gaining attention outside the sporting world, Sam was asked to take part in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, narrowly missing the final after coming fourth.

On leaving the jungle she received the news that she was to receive an MBE.

“It was amazing to get the news, you always dream that you’re going to win an Olympic gold medal but no-one actually says I want a MBE so I didn’t even think about it.”

“Then the letter came through saying ‘Samantha Quek MBE’ – I thought this is so posh.

“But I think when I’m 70-years-old and people ask me how I got the MBE it’ll be great to tell them the story of the summer of 2016.

“I’ll never get bored of talking about that.”

The former Birkenhead High pupil became a gold medallist with the British hockey team.

The victory made them the most successful women’s hockey team in Olympic history after beating world number one team, Netherlands in a tense final.

After the win Sam took to Twitter to dedicate her medal to her nan who had recently suffered a stroke.