IT is almost a decade since Woolston resident Judy Brown was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

Now, she is hoping her record-breaking return to competitive swimming can inspire people who are on a similar journey.

Brown has recently broken several British and European masters records having moved up into the 60-64 age group this year, with the most recent being short-course records for the 100m and 200m backstroke at the Bolton Masters meet on Saturday.

This followed her hat-trick of victories at the Welsh Masters Long Course Championships earlier this month, breaking European long-course records in the 100m and 200m backstroke – 1min 15.41secs and 2mins 42.74secs respectively – while also taking a massive 15 seconds off the British masters record for the 400m individual medley by clocking 5mins 59.18secs.

She lowered that mark to 5mins 58.14secs at the Adam Peaty Race meet in Sunderland the following week, where she also broke the British masters record for the 200m individual medley – her time of 2mins 47.47secs beat the previous best by more than six seconds.

All of this has come since entering remission having had completed intensive courses of chemotherapy and radiotheraphy and had extensive surgery following her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2014

“Swimming is such a marvellous sport, regardless of age and ability,” said Brown, who swims for Trafford Masters.

“It has helped me so much throughout my treatment and has been a massive benefit to me throughout my life.

“I often swim in public sessions at Orford Jubilee and Woolston, and it’s always good to speak to people there who say how much it enhances their quality of life.”

“A huge thanks go to my family and teammates at Trafford Masters for their support, to Livewire and Total Fitness for providing the swimming facilities, and to the wonderful NHS for their life-saving treatment.”

With her records in the bag, Brown now intends to take a break from competition but will be back to swim at the National Masters Championships in Swansea at the end of April.