91Èȱ¬

Weymouth bobsleigher Serita Shone is excited at the prospect of returning to competitive action after revealing she will race at the British Championships in March.

Doctors feared the 23-year-old might be paralysed after she fractured her spine in a crash in October 2011.

But she has astounded medical experts and friends by returning to training.

"Getting back to competition and doing bobsleigh is what I do," Shone told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Solent.

Shone was injured when she and Fiona Harrison crashed during training in Winterberg, Germany ahead of the 2011 British Championships.

She will return to the sport as a driver, with Sian Huxtable joining her as brakewoman, and Shone is already aiming for the 2014 Winter Olympics, although admitting that might be a little ambitious.

"It feels like it's been forever. Every day there is a new challenge, so it's so good to get back on the wagon and do what I was born to do, and that is run and be an athlete.

"As soon as I knew I was going to be okay I was adamant I wanted to return to the sport and get back in training and put myself in contention for the Winter Olympics," she said.

"I'm definitely close to the times I was before, I'm making improvements but time will tell."

Shone has set herself modest targets ahead of the British Championships.

"My target is to finish and finish safely," she added. "Anything above finishing is a bonus - and if I win that's an extra bonus."