DOUBLE-KIDNEY transplant patient Sharon Barlow won seven medals at the World Transplant Games in Canada and claimed a World Record into the bargain.

The 34-year-old swimmer from Prestwood smashed the previous 100m breaststroke record to smithereens just three years after undergoing her second kidney transplant after the first one failed.

She said after returning from the games last Monday: "It was an amazing experience. Before I had the transplant, I was constantly tired. Even taking my daughter to school would wear me out and leave me drained. I never thought then that I would be doing this."

Sharon suffered kidney failure when she suffered pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.

She had to undergo dialysis treatment four times a day but things were to get even worse for her.

She had a kidney transplant in 2000. But the kidney which was donated by her father Malcolm Piggott clotted the very next day and had to be taken out leaving her back at square one.

She said: "I thought that was it. I thought I would be doing dialysis four times a day every day of my life and feeling just as tired as ever."

But then her sister Karen Maughan stepped forward with another match and Barlow had her second transplant in November 2002.

And this time, despite a scare in the first week when it started haemorrhaging, it worked.

Sharon immediately set her sights on the British Transplant Games when she was still in hospital.

She said: "As soon as I knew I was having the transplant I told the nurses I wanted to go the British Transplant Games."

And she did. She returned from the 2004 Games in Norwich with two gold medals and a silver and was selected for the World Games in London, Ontario, on the back of that as part of the UK team.

She said: "It really struck home at the opening ceremony when they announced the UK team and we had to walk in. I just filled up and thought Oh my gosh. I'm part of the United Kingdom team'."

But she wasn't there to just make up the numbers.

She won gold in the 100m breaststroke in a new World Transplant record time of one minute, 38.1 seconds beating the old time by five seconds as she took her first big international event by storm.

She said: "Before the race I looked up and saw my family there at the pool. I wanted to do it for myself and for them.

"When I won I just hugged my sister and cried.

"Without her none of this would have been possible. I owe her everything.

"It was like winning the lottery when I got her kidney. It has given me a new lease of life."

She also won silvers in the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and team silvers in the freestyle and medley relays.

She also claimed bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

And when she returned home this week with her daughter Shannon, now eight, her sister and other members of her family, she was given a hero's welcome at the airport by her dad who presented her with a bouquet and then took her home by limousine.