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Only a year ago 12-year-old athlete Mackenzie Whilding was out of action after breaking her arm – but now she has won two gold medals at the Junior Olympics.

The youngster feared she would not be able to compete following her injury but has just returned home after representing Team GB in inline hockey at the competition in Los Angeles.

“I was feeling a bit nervous before the tournament but the buzz was amazing,” said goalie Mackenzie, a pupil at Llantwit Major School.

“Me and my teammates were so excited when we won – it was awesome. The best bit was the game when I didn’t let in a single goal.”

The only Welsh player on the team

The youngster from St Athan, who first started playing ice hockey when she was seven, was the only Welsh player on the team.

At the end of the under-12s competition she was also asked to stand in for a player on the American team, who went on to win silver.

Dad Keiran said: “There was a great atmosphere. The team gelled really well because they did everything together – eating, training, team talks.”

He admitted it was “nerve-wracking” watching his daughter, who has previously broken both her arm and her leg playing inline hockey.

“Luckily she didn’t get any more injuries while we were out there,” he said.

Mum Sam added: “It’s a dangerous sport but she’s not afraid of anything.

“I do get a bit nervous watching. Some of the kids have a powerful shot and she is small for her age so I do get anxious when I see a puck flying at her head.”

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400-mile round trip for training

Mackenzie first became interested in ice hockey after visiting family in Canada where she saw her cousin playing.

“She has never looked back since,” said Sam.

She started playing roller inline hockey when she was 10 and now trains twice a week with the Cardiff Capitals.

In the run-up to the competition the youngster was also training every other week in Yorkshire, which involved a 400-mile round trip for her dedicated dad.

Her family raised £2,000 for her to compete in America as there was no funding available. Next year’s competition will take place in Hawaii.

“Unless we win the lottery I don’t think we’ll be going,” said Keiran, who is now encouraging his daughter to look towards the competition in 2017.