THE mum of swimming champion Danielle Joyce has told of her pride after the Stevenston girl won three medals at the Deaflympics in Turkey.

And she revealed the Turkish nation had taken Danii to their hearts after she let local youngsters wear her medal and posed for pictures with them.

Danii has scooped one Gold and two Bronze medals so far at the 2017 event.

The 21-year-old, who is World Record Holder in no less than nine events, was still competing in the championships as the Herald went to press.

Danii won Gold in the Women’s 50m Freestyle last weekend. She then picked up Bronze in both the 50m backstroke and the 100m mixed freestyle relay.

Proud mum Louise Joyce told the Herald: “Danii has worked so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve this goal.

“Even if she hadn’t medalled we would still have been as proud of everything she has done and the amount she has given back through her work with deaf children and organizations to promote deaf/women’s sport.

“How you win is so important and Danii has shown that which is why we are so happy and so proud of her for realising her dream of Deaflympic Gold.

“In our eyes she is a true champion.

“Even the Turkish supporters took her to their heart as she spent so much time with their children, letting them wear her medal and posing for pictures with them.”

Danii was born with moderate hearing loss which continued to deteriorate once she entered puberty.

She was North Ayrshire Provost’s Civic Pride Sports award winner 2015 and North Ayrshire Community Sports Personality of the year 2016.