A Bracknell swimmer walked away victorious in this year’s Winter Swimming World Championships as she broke the world record in freezing temperatures.

Master swimmer from the Wokingham and Bracknell Swimming Club, Laura Wilcox, achieved her accreditation to attend the event in Lake Bled after months of training.

The first event out of three was the 1000m Freestyle which was two loops in a controlled area of the Lake and broke the current world record by 39.24 seconds.

The next two events included the 25metre butterfly and the 450m freestyle.

After a successful 25m butterfly Laura qualified for the Super Final which was made up of the fastest 8 swimmers from all the age groups.

The 450m free-style took part in the floating 25m pool rather than open water.

Terry Wright said: "Competitors again as with the Butterfly, had to start in the water and are only allowed 5m underwater from the push off and the turns, no tumble turns either.

"Laura was in the second to last heat with swimmers in her age group in the heats before her, with her, but not after her.

“From the start Laura lead and at 100m she was 1.8 seconds ahead of the second placed swimmer, at 200m this lead increased to 2.78.

“Then the second placed swimmer started her move and at 400m she was now ahead by 0.35. Laura, with sight of the gold medal still in her mind dug deep with perfect pacing and with the most excellent last 50m to win with the margin of 0.93.”

This means thar she walks away as Triple World Champion at the Winter Swimming Championships.