A TALENTED athlete from Bromsgrove has scooped an amazing 17 medals in one month.

Richard Murphy, aged 14, won the medals for Special Olympics Worcestershire (SOW) at five athletics and swimming events during September.

His latest success came last Saturday in Macclesfield where he swam to gold in the freestyle and claimed silver in both the backstroke and 4x25 metre relay.

But he began his haul on the track on Saturday, September 6 when Richard, a pupil at Rigby Hall School, in Aston Fields, won three silver medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay respectively in Solihull.

Five days later he took an incredible four golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay and long jump at Cannock.

He returned to swimming on September 13 and 14 by taking gold in the freestyle, silver in the backstroke and bronze in the 4x25m relay at Reading.

And ten days ago he ran to 200m and 4x100m relay gold as well as 100m silver in Enfield.

Richard trains with SOW at the Ryland Centre, in New Road, on Thursdays and with Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletics Club on Mondays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are spent with Bromsgrove Swimming Club.

For more details on Special Olympics Worcestershire call Niall Murphy 0121 680 6102.