Serita Shone announces competitive bobsleigh return

Weymouth bobsleigher Serita Shone will make her competitive return at next month's British Championships.

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

But she has astounded friends, team members and medical experts by returning to action.

"I will be getting back in a bobsleigh on ice for the British Championships on 9 March in Austria and racing as a driver," Shone announced on Twitter.

Shone was injured when she and Fiona Harrison crashed during training in Winterberg, Germany.

However, she was able to return 12 months later and if all goes well in Austria, competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi remains a major target.

"It is still an aim, but I've got to work very hard and keep improving to be in for a shout for that," said Shone, speaking last October.

"I'm still going to try, but I'm not oblivious to the fact that I need to be realistic and probably my long-term aim is 2018.

"If a spot for Sochi comes for me, then I'll quite happily take it and work my behind off to get there."