PHYSIOTHERAPIST Kerry Robinson admits she was bursting with pride when Commonwealth Games athletes she treated showed her their medal hauls.

Oxenholme-based Robinson spent eleven days at Carnoustie, on the east coast of Scotland, after a rigorous application and training process which began 18 months ago.

Treating around 80 shooting competitors, 37-year-old Robinson has not stopped smiling since her return to the day job at Lakeland & Lunesdale Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic in Milnthorpe.

“The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish - meeting some incredible people both athletes and other volunteers,” said the mother-of-one, who also works at BAE Systems in Barrow.

“The clinic I was based at was extremely busy with athletes suffering from a variety of issues prior to their competition days.

“It was a fascinating insight into the elite athlete world, seeing how they responded to treatment and also satisfying to see many, especially from Team India, winning gold, silver and bronze medals.

“It gave a great sense of pride and satisfaction when they visited the clinic to show off their medals and give their thanks for treatment.

"It was an inspirational couple of weeks and has most definitely given me the volunteering bug.”

She added the games attracted the biggest number of applicants for volunteer spaces, with around 50,000 applying for 15,000 spaces, including around 400 physiotherapists.

“We had to attend various training sessions based in Glasgow over the last five months including collecting our uniform and accreditation passes,” added Robinson, who qualified as a physiotherapist at the University of Manchester between 1998-2001.

“It was a surreal experience. I am really proud of myself and it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”