MEDORA McCarthy represented Great Britain at the European Dream European Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships in Jerusalem this week thanks to her Chipping Sodbury roots.

The 17-year-old Stanford University Fencing Club member formed part of the 41-strong GB in Israel, but was unable to progress from the first round after winning just one of her six fights.

The miracle is that the youngster has only competed on the international circuit for three months and qualified to represent her country of birth.

McCarthy was just two-years-old when her parents moved away from Chipping Sodbury to California.

She said: “This is my first major cap. Naturally, I was very excited when I learned that I had qualified.”