SCHOOLGIRL Kelly Young triumphed in the World Transplant Games in Thailand, winning five gold medals.

The 13-year-old, from Tobacconist Road, Minchinhampton, underwent a liver transplant as a baby which saved her life.

Kelly, a pupil at Sir William Romney's School, Tetbury and a member of Stroud Swimming Club, has just returned from the games in Bangkok.

Nearly 900 competitors from 48 countries took part, and Kelly was one of 21 juniors representing the UK.

Most of her achievements were in swimming, and she won the 50-metres fly, freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, and 200-metres freestyle.

She also competed as part of the UK women's A team in the freestyle and individual medley relays, swimming fly in the relay.

The team won gold medals in both of these races, bringing her personal gold medal tally up to seven.

Mum, Denise, 45, donated part of her liver to Kelly during pioneering treatment at King's College Hospital at just eight months old.

"We were told if Kelly hadn't had the transplant she wouldn't have lasted another 36 hours," said Denise, who also has a 15-year-old son, Ryan.

"She had a difficult start and picked up a lot of viruses up until the age of eight - she had quite a few hospital stays.

"She will be on medication for life, and you can never say she's going to be okay because a nasty virus could knock her for six.

"I'm so proud of her, she's extremely motivated and she's becoming quite competitive.

"She's certainly succeeded in raising awareness of organ donation."

The estimated cost of the trip was around £6,000, and with the help of her family and school, Kelly managed to raise most of this herself.

Headteacher Eric Dawson also praised Kelly's fantastic achievements.

"She takes sport very seriously," he said.

"She does a lot of training, and coming back with gold medals is inspirational - other pupils want to emulate her."

Kelly hopes to compete in the next World Transplant Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2009.