SAMI Smithson will be part of the Great Britain squad flying out to Quebec, Canada on Monday to take part in the world student championships.

The 20-year-old from Rishton, a one-time Lancashire Evening Telegraph sports personality of the year, will compete in the Under 52 kilos judo event to complete a remarkable return to big time competition.

The former three-times British champion, at Under 14, youth and schools levels, injured her knee a year ago and was sidelined on and off for four months.

But her selection for Britain confirms she is back again to 100 per cent fitness. "This is the first step hopefully towards qualifying for the Olympics," said Smithson who is now ranked fourth in the British senior rankings and trains at the Bredakwai Gym.

"Competition will be fierce as most of the participants were at the Olympics.

"But that's the standard I want to reach and this is a good benchmark."

Sami, who was competing today in the British championships in Bath, is in her first year of a sports science degree at University College of St Martin's at Lancaster.

Karrimor have sponsored some of her clothing for the Canadian trip.

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