Future Paralympic hope Jane McDermott got a first taste of international glory at the World Cerebral Palsy Championship Games in America.

The 19-year-old from Wheldrake struck gold in the 4x100 metres relay after swimming the lead leg, and followed that up with silvers in her specialist 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley, plus a pair of bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

The delighted swimmer said: "I was aiming to get medals but I didn't really know how many I would get - or what colour they would be - so I was pleased with how I did."

McDermott is currently in her second year of a sports and exercise science course at York College.

Slotted around that timetable is an intense programme of training including ten hours in the pool and three hours in the gym every week, which is supported by a £1,000 bursary as part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.

"It helps me quite a lot," said the 19-year-old.

But McDermott knows that more top-class performances are needed in the coming months and years to keep hold of the bursary in order to support her charge for the 2008 Paralympics - and then onto London in 2012, when she will be aged 26 and hitting her swimming peak.

She said: "I've got to keep my times down to stay on the team between now and then so that's my main objective really."

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, July 26, 2005