Fell grabs silver in modern pentathlon to add to Britain's medal harvest

The 25-year-old came close to quitting the sport altogether in 2006 after her funding was cut by UK Sport because she was struggling to overcome constant shin injuries.

Fell quit Bath, moved home to Tavestock and decided to give the sport one more shot - but she had to juggle three jobs in order to do it.

On Friday, that determination paid off as she clinched silver with a strong all-round performance.

Medal power: Fell celebrates on the podium with her silver

'Of course I am glad I changed my mind,' said Fell, who had Union Jacks painted on each of her fingernails.

'When my funding was cut I couldn't afford to live in Bath and I wasn't really welcome there anymore. I had to decide what to do.

'I didn't feel abandoned by the system but it did give me a kick up the backside.

'My parents said they would support me. I had three part-time jobs - teaching swimming, a bit of physio and working in a pub.

'I got over my injuries and I fitted the swimming, riding and running around working. The fencing and shooting dropped a bit.

'I got my foot back in the door, things started going right and I won a silver medal at the European Championships last summer to qualify for the Olympics.'

Only then did the funding resume.

Fell was sixth after the shooting event and moved up to second as she impressed
watching Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the fencing.

An audience with the Prime Minister: Fell competes against Xiu Xiu of China as Gordon Brown watches

Fell's parents Nick and Doreen missed the early stages because they overslept,
having only arrived in Beijing yesterday.

'They pretended they were too nervous to watch but I think they slept through
their alarm,' laughed Fell.

But Mum and Dad were there at the end as Fell swam a season's best in the 200
metre freestyle and maintained second place through the equestrian and into the
3000 metre run.

The athletes' starts are staggered based on the total points they have accumulated in the first four events. First across the line wins gold.

Fell halved a 19-second gap but could not overhaul Germany's Lena Schoneborn,
who had led the competition since the fencing round.

In the end, she was relieved to have remained ahead of Ukrainian athlete Victoria Tereshuk to win silver.

'I didn't know I had closed 10 seconds,' she said.

'This year we have been quite similar. I knew I was fit but I assumed she would be as well.

'My biggest worry in the run was Victoria catching me.'

Fell's silver medal extends Britain's successful recent record in Olympic modern pentathlon having won medals at all three Games since the women's event was introduced.

Steph Cook won gold and Kate Allenby claimed bronze in 2000, while Georgina Harland finished third for Britain at the Athens Games four years ago.

'Kate Allenby's family has been a massive infuence,' said Fell.

'Her parents were my pony club trainers and her mother taught me how to shoot. I came up through that route and had someone to follow. It certainly showed me the way.'

Fell's fellow Brit Katy Livingston finished seventh.

'It had been a really good day for me but I had an average fence, which was the difference between a podium finish and seventh place today,' said Livingston, who moved up two places in the run.

'It is great to see Heather up on the podium. It is great for British sport.'