AN Ayr multiple world record holder is making her international debut for Boccia UK this week.

Kayleigh Haggo, who was named one of the 30 most inspiring women aged under 30 by YMCA Scotland, Young Citizen of the Year by Ayr Rotary Club, and Up and Coming Youngster by West FM, has swapped the athletics track for the boccia court as she competes at the Poznan World Boccia Challenger in Poland this week.

The 23-year-old also holds world records in frame-running across 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m, but will now focus her attentian on boccia - a sport similar to bocce, which was originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy, but now includes athletes with other severe disabilities including motor skills.

Last week she told Boccia UK: "Playing boccia is totally different to being on an athletics track. When I first started playing, I didn’t expect to get this far, this fast. I just wanted to give it a go and see what happened.

"I won the Scottish championships a few months later and so I decided I would up my training, really give it my all and see where it takes me.

"I’m really excited (about Poland). I can’t wait to get there and soak up an international, high level competition with Boccia UK.

"There’s more pressure on me when I’m on an athletics track as I’ve been number one for a while – but, with boccia, there are no expectations on me so I’m looking forward to going out there, having fun and, of course, trying my best.

READ MORE: MP throws weight behind campaign to stop people getting scammed

"I’ve got a lot to learn but it’s quite nice not to have that pressure on me.”

Kayleigh works as a project coordinator at Inspire South Ayrshire, a sport inclusion project for people with impairments, in Girvan.

She also makes regular visits to schools to give talks and support teachers in how to involve impaired children in physical education lessons.

To follow Kayleigh's journey in Poland search for Poznan 2022 World Boccia Intercontinental Challenger on Facebook.