LAURIE Brooks's aims are to run faster, jump further and become a better goalkeeper.

And only a fool would bet against her achieving all three -- and in double quick time.

The 15-year-old is one of Bromsgrove's most prolific sporting performers.

During her six year involvement with Worcestershire Special Olympics, she has won more than 120 medals in athletics, swimming, uni-hoc, gymnastics and football. Completing her role of honour is a Bromsgrove Sports Personality award for 1999.

And the experience has been invaluable in terms of personal development, as mum Annette explains.

"Laurie has made lots of friends. She saw someone she met at the European Games in Holland at an event in London and she couldn't wait to get home and tell us about it.

"When she returned from Holland, people were saying 'see you at the nationals in Cardiff next year.'''

The Rigby Hall School pupil scooped three medals at the European Special Olympics -- gold in the long jump and relay and bronze over 400m. She has only just moved up to the one lap race from the 100m and 200m.

A strong swimmer from her early years, Laurie became involved with the Worcestershire group through her teacher at the time, Maggie McIlvaney, the club's secretary and coach.

The group trains at the Ryland Centre in Bromsgrove every Thursday night and members regularly compete in events all over the country. There's also the chance to travel abroad -- Laurie has been chosen to take part in a competition in Spain this autumn.

Annette said: "Laurie does enjoy it, and she gets excited about going to events.

"I remember when she first started running and they were just like little dots. Because Special Olympics is split into categories based on ability rather than age, she was up against 20-year-olds. In Holland, she shared a room with a lady of 32 who said she'd look after her!''

Like her seven-year-old brother Joseph, who plays for Catshill Juniors, Laurie is an enthusiastic footballer -- she was enjoying a kickabout in the garden when I visited -- and supports Birmingham City.

This summer, she's attending a coaching course at Bromsgrove School to work on her goalkeeping skills.

Laurie is a Bromsgrove Sports Performance Fund recipient for 2000. The scheme is backed by the Advertiser/Messenger, Bromsgrove District Council and NatWest.