A TALENTED swimmer has battled back from injury to pick up two gold medals in Belgium.

Droitwich Spa teenager Kim Briggs has endured a catalogue of disasters since last April.

The 17-year-old suffered a sprained ankle, two foot breaks and surgery to both legs to improve her balance and mobility which has resulted in back trouble.

Although the problems prevented Briggs from competing for nearly a year, she returned with style in the Limburg Swimming Trophy.

The Droitwich Spa High School sixth-form pupil collected gold medals in both the 50 metre and 100m freestyle races.

Briggs had only been able to train one month before the event but still impressed while representing England and Wales Cerebral Palsy Sport in Hasselt.

Her mother Sue admitted: "We only asked her to do her best and see how much time she had lost as a result of her health.

"So we were extremely pleased to have her return home with two gold medals.

Result

"She had lost about five seconds on her times but we did not feel this was a bad result at all."

Briggs had set national records in both 50m and 100m freestyle races in 2000, racing in the S7 class.

Now competing at S8 level, she also tackled the Disability Sport England National Short Course Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

Despite stiffer opposition, Briggs still managed a 50m silver and 100m bronze and recorded an impressive time in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Sue added: "Kim has proved to herself that she can still compete and is now determined to get back to full training and be fit enough to take part in more competitions next year."

Briggs expects to lose her World Class Start programme place next year due to the injuries and lack of competition.

But she hopes to return to the scheme in 2007 which would reinstate her funding, helping with training and travelling.

That could open the door for a serious challenge at making the 2012 Paralympics in London or maybe even Beijing four years earlier.