Judo star Stephanie Inglis yesterday made her first public appearance in Inverness since her life-threatening motorcycle accident.
The Commonwealth Games silver medallist cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new Dickson’s of Inverness Nissan showroom in the Carsegate area.
It was the 27-year-old’s first public engagement since her remarkable recovery from a brain injury she sustained after falling from a motorbike while on her way to teach English in Vietnam.
Medical experts initially gave her just a 1% chance of survival following the incident in May, but she has since defied the odds and stunned doctors with her progress.
Now she is just days away from achieving her initial target of being able to go on a dream family holiday to Disney World in Florida.
The Orlando trip was originally scheduled for June but was re-arranged following the accident.
Ms Inglis said yesterday: “It has been a really nice, friendly environment today, with kids getting their faces painted.
“I’m getting better every day, getting stronger. I’m getting physio and the rehab is going well.
“It’s so much nicer being back up here in the Highlands, and I’m going on holiday a week on Wednesday.”
She remains overwhelmed by the generosity of supporters from the judo world and beyond who rallied to raise more than £300,000 to help pay her medical bills and fly her home.
After her holiday, Mrs Inglis has set her sights on competing at “one more Commonwealth Games”, with South Africa in 2022 the target.