FROM dealing with soaring temperatures above 90 degrees to managing her hayfever allergies to competing in a top-class competition.

Those were just some of the challenges facing talented cyclist Kiera Byland as she swooped to three gold medals at the Special Olympics but in the eyes of the 17-year-old it all contributed to an unbelievable experience.

The Bolton College student was in action in the 15km road race, 10km road race and then the 10km road race.

She started with the 15km road race and could not have got off to a better start.

Proud mum Jacqui Byland said: "Kiera was in the top division of riders after some brilliant times.

"She went into it wanting to keep the pace up but nobody went with her and then she decided to just go for it and won.

"When she came over the line she was so hot and we had to give her the inhaler and we gave her a drink.

"I told her she had done really well and seemed to pick up after five or 10 minutes and tried to calm her down.

"Kiera had a coach Joe Malik and he was brilliant after taking her for the past 12 months and was instrumental in her success."

After scooping her first medal she took pride of place at the top of the podium for the awards ceremony but all her focus was on the next day and the 10km road race.

Jacqui said: "She has really bad hayfever and they were staying near a grassy area.

"She was struggling a bit and I told her coaches to make sure she had her inhalers with her.

"The second race was totally different as the Russian cyclist who came second the previous day had learned from letting Kiera setting the pace.

"Instead she stuck to Kiera like glue and Kiera could not shake her off.

"But there was a slight incline and with 100m to go Kiera just went for it and won by a bike length.

"The crowd was cheering and it was so exciting for her.

"It was great for her as it was the first time she had been with somebody of similar competition and was delighted to come out on top."

Kiera rounded it off with the 10km time trial but she was determined to make it a clean sweep of wins

Jacqui added: "It was not too fast 19:00 and she had saved herself and energy for this one.

"She kept saying she was going for gold and she was passing people who went out ahead of her.

"But we wanted to be official before telling her despite the commentator and some of the officials telling us she had won gold.

"It was really great when she found out and she was delighted."