BY The Star,

SHEFFIELD mum is celebrating victory in an international diving contest at the age of 52 – just five years after taking up the sport.

Helen Bishop, an accountant's assistant at Pond's Forge, took a gold medal in the Open Dutch Masters Championships in Eindhoven.

She came up with the figures that really counted from the judges in the women's one metre springboard novice competition.

Helen, a mum-of-one from Ecclesfield, is also a part-time diving coach at the venue, where she has worked for seven years.

She said: "It's great to have won gold in my first international competition. I had a lot of support from the the Ponds Forge team who were there and I'm thrilled to have done so well. I only started diving about five years ago when my daughter took up the sport so I feel extra proud to prove that age is no barrier to people who want to try new things."

The Ponds Forge team of nine brought home 12 gold medals from the competition at the National Swimcentre De Tongelreep.

Helen began coaching at Ponds Forge shortly after daughter Victoria began classes. They both now teach youngsters at the city centre venue to help identify future Olympic talents.

Helen Broadbent, general manager at Ponds Forge, said: "We're all really proud of Helen. She is so enthusiastic about her diving and is an inspiration to anyone who wants to take up a sport

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