Erika Kelly has been awarded the President’s Sword of Honour for outstanding contribution to Team Isle of Man at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

The Manx race walker battled against the odds to compete at the top level and duly received the prestigious award from Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) president Basil Bielich.

The 25-year-old finished in ninth place in the women’s 20km race walk on her Isle of Man debut, after only three years in the sport.

It wasn’t just her performance in Australia which earned her the award: Erika was diagnosed with a genetic eye disease aged 14 which has seen her vision deteriorate gradually in both eyes and left her visually impaired.

The Manx athlete was thrilled to receive the sword: ’It is a massive shock but naturally I am extremely proud to have been chosen for this honour.

’It was quite overwhelming to finish in the top 10 in Australia as the competition was tough and the heat was so intense but I will always cherish the experience.

’Growing up, I always admired people who were good at sport, such as local swimmer Olivia Rawlinson, but I’d always been pretty average so to find a sport I was good at was a big surprise.

’I turned up for a running session one evening and it turned out to be the wrong one.

’Steve Partington (coach) suggested I try out race walking and the rest is history. I wish I had taken the step earlier - the life plan went out of the window after that!

’I would like to say a really big thank you to Isle of Man Sport Aid for its support, the CGA for selecting me for Australia and my sponsor Ramsey Crookall. I am so grateful for their continued support and enthusiasm.’

The sword, presented to the individual - or individuals - who have made an outstanding contribution to the team, whether a competitor or a member of the squad’s support team, was the idea of former IoMCGA president Dursley Stott.

He heard that the Wilkinson Sword company was giving away a limited number of presentation swords to deserving causes and contacted the company with the idea of awarding it to a member of Team Isle of Man who made an outstanding contribution at each edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Erika follows in the footsteps of long-time badminton stalwarts and team officials Frank and Pat Anderson who received the inaugural award after the Manchester Games in 2002.

Shooters Trevor Boyles and Dave Walton received the accolade after their bronze medal success at Melbourne 2006 with gymnast Grace Harrison awarded the honour following Glasgow 2014.

Erika has now been put on IoM Sport Aid’s ’Target Tokyo’ programme ahead of the 2020 Olympics and along with her partner, local athlete Ollie Lockley, will go away in September for three months of endurance training at Leeds Beckett University.

Isle of Man CGA president Basil Bielich added: ’Committing to train in Leeds this autumn is just the latest sacrifice Erika has made to try and achieve her sporting ambitions.

’She is a deserving recipient of the President’s Award, not just for her outstanding performances but because she stood out as part of a team with her enthusiasm.

’She always helped team-mates with a word of encouragement and even played the harp at our fundraising dinner.

She played a part in the Gold Coast experience in so many ways.’