SALTNEY gymnast Melanie Roberts proved she is back to her best with one of her strongest performances yet in the match against China.
Starring alongside club-mate Beth Tweddle, Melanie achieved a personal best all-round score of 35.7.
The performance included two personal bests in the vault and floor competitions.
Unfortunately, an ankle injury sustained in the run-up to the match meant Roberts, 17, decided to pull out of the finals to preserve her fitness for the forthcoming British Championships.
Her mother Paula said: 'We were delighted that she did so well considering her injury. She decided it was best not to push things with such a big event so close, but she was more than happy with her performance.'
The display was a real confidence boost for Roberts, who trains five days a week in Liverpool as well as studying for a Physical Education A-Level at Deeside College.
Roberts broke an elbow in a fall in 2003, which put her 2004 plans on hold.
Her Olympic hopes appeared to have been scuppered but her recovery astounded doctors at Alder Hey Hospital and she made it back for the trials in June last year, just missing out by one place.
Roberts, who competed for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she finished 13th in the all-round competition, has since been steadily getting back to her best and is now looking forward to earning a place on the podium at the British Championships.
