CAROLINE Faithfull, who lives in South Petherton and trains at Taunton Deane Swimming Club, was in action at the European Downs Syndrome Open Swimming Competition in Southampton recently.

She came back with two gold and four silver medals, getting PBs in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke.

Faithfull said: "I will now be training hard for the next European Championships, to be held in Sardinia next September."

Caroline has featured in the News in the past for her award winning efforts.

In 2017, she collected 15 medals across European Down's Syndrome Open in Southampton and the European Championships for swimmers with Down Syndrome, held in Paris.

Last year, she was picked as the Team GB captain for the ninth Down's Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Canada.

However, she her position in the time relied on her raising £3,500 to fund her 2018 trip to Nova Scotia.

Caroline receives no external funding for representing her country, despite collecting

Caroline has been swimming competitively since 2009, when she won her first competition.

She previously competed at the world championships in Italy in 2012, in Mexico in 2014, and took home a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke when competing in Florence, Italy, in 2016.

Thanks to her appeal in the News, Caroline was able to hit her funding target.

She trains at Taunton Deane Swimming Club and with Reading Signets Special Needs Club once a month.

She is always joined for the competitions by her dad, David.