A VALLEYS woman won a gold medal at the Special Olympics in Greece.
Abercarn's Helen Pritchard, 35, took top spot in the Ten Pin Bowling doubles event with her partner, Martin Cassidy from Kirriemuir in Scotland.
The pair managed to avoid the stomach flu which has laid waste to team GB in Athens and put 18 of their fellow competitors in hospital, to score 630 over three frames.
Miss Pritchard said: "I felt good, I was really chuffed, it was my first gold medal and I'm very proud."
Miss Pritchard, a former Crownbridge school pupil who has represented Wales for a decade, also finished seventh in the singles event.
Despite the violent clashes in the Greek capital between police and protesters, angry at proposed spending cuts, Miss Pritchard's coach said they have been well protected and managed to avoid the areas of confrontation.
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