Penny Clapcott is a 13-year-old dreaming of competing at the Paralympics at Athens in 2004.

She is only two feet tall and weighs two-and-a half-stone and suffers from a brittle bone condition called osteogenesis.

The Rustington youngster has suffered 70 fractures and undergone five operations.

But the Sussex Squids (Littlehampton) member has discovered she has a talent for competitive swimming that could take her to the top.

Her father John said: "I have been told that she has a natural talent for swimming and could go all the way. She would love the chance to go to Athens."

The Angmering pupil started racing in October 1999 and in March last year gained three gold medals at 25m freestyle, 25m back and 50m backstroke in Class S3 at the national junior disability championships in Darlington.

John said: "She was thrilled with that having had no previous experience. It gave her the taste of winning and she liked it."

Glory came when she struck silver in the 25m and 50m freestyle and backstroke events in the national seniors at Sheffield before topping up her medal haul with six gold medals and six records in the 25m, 50m and 100m backstroke and freestyle at the junior event.

A return to Sheffield for the seniors saw her win gold medals at 25m and 50m breaststroke plus the 75m individual medley. In one of her six silver medal swims she broke the national record for the 100m freestyle.

Penny has been called up by England and now trains with the squad four times a year and next month will travel to Holland for her first international meeting.

She trains up to four times a week at Littlehampton pool and is coached by Helen Brooks who has volunteered to help her swimming development.

Her life has been transformed by swimming, says her father.

Penny's swimming development, of course, comes at a financial price.

John said: "I'd say that this year we've spent £2,000 on her swimming and, with her ambitions to get into the Great Britain team, costs will be even more so it would be nice to get a local company to sponsor her."

Penny is having a ball.

She said: "It was frustrating because I couldn't do any sport before. It's wonderful that I've found out I am quite good at it and I hope to go to Athens. I'll try anyway."