'I couldn't run or swim - now I'm a GB triathlete'

Georgia Couzens will represent Team GB at the World Triathlon Championships in October

A woman who said she could not run or swim properly until a few years ago is set to represent Team GB at the World Triathlon Championships.

Georgia Couzens ran her first long-distance event at the London Marathon in 2016 in memory of her infant daughter Millie, who died just six weeks beforehand.

Now the 33-year-old is taking part in the sprint triathlon event in her age category at the championships in Australia in October.

"If 10 years ago someone had said to me I'd be representing Great Britain, I think I just would have laughed," she told the BBC.

"I was never sporty as a child - quite the opposite," Georgia said, adding that she could not swim with her face in the water until five years ago.

"It's absolutely mind-blowing to me… that now I'm in this position."

Georgia's daughter Millie, was given just 10 weeks to live when she was born

Life changed dramatically for Georgia when her daughter Millie was born in 2015 with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare condition which causes the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.

Millie was given just 10 weeks to live, but she fought until she was 17 months old before passing away in March 2016.

Georgia, from Southend-on-Sea, said she was determined to raise money for the charity DEBRA UK - which helped to support Millie and her family - running the London Marathon as planned, despite having not even run a 5km race before.

"Seeing everything that Millie went through, those dark days, they'll always be with me and they'll always be part of my journey," Georgia said.

"Millie dealt with everything with such humility and strength, and that has really inspired me. She was like a force, and I think I take that with me in everything I do."

Georgia's mum Karen said her daughter's achievements were "inspiring"

Georgia built up her experience by running more marathons and an Ironman event, before successfully qualifying for the World Triathlon Championships, which take place in Wollongong, near Sydney.

With no funding available, she turned to crowdfunding to help pay for her travel, accommodation and even her Team GB kit - but said it was a "pinch-me" moment when she opened it for the first time.

"When [the kit] arrived and it's got my name on it and Great Britain - I just never ever in a million years would have dreamt that this is something I'd be able to do," she told the BBC.

Her mum, Karen Brown, said Georgia's achievements had been "inspiring".

"All the family are very proud of her. Out of adversity, she's created something really special, which I think is an example for everybody," she added.

Georgia said she could not swim with her face in the water until just five years ago

Georgia prefers to "fly a bit under the radar" and describes herself as not naturally talented but someone who works really hard in her training.

Her event on 17 October sees her compete against more than 50 other women aged 30-34 years old, and involves a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run.

She will be watched by her family, including four-year-old daughter Flossie and two-year-old son Kit.

"I think everyone around me has more faith and confidence in me than I do myself," Georgia said.

"I'm just proud to be there - to come out the other side of something that was absolutely awful, but also very rewarding - it's given us all strength we didn't know we had."

"To stand on that start line - with my family behind me - means the world."