SPECIAL gymnast Zara Turton, who has Down Syndrome, is dancing for joy after becoming a world champion - with the help of Halesowen supporters who raised money pay her travel to Italy for the competition.

The 15-year-old Windsor High School girl, who lives in Blackheath, struck a Usain Bolt pose as she raised her rhythmic gymnastics trophy aloft, with the cheers of a horn-blasting, 600-strong crowd ringing in her ears in Mortara, near Milan.

She triumphed with gold medals for "hoop", "clubs" and "rope" and a silver in "ball" to become the overall winner at the World Down Syndrome gymnastics competition last weekend.

Zara, who was already British champion, shouted "love you Tracey" to her coach Tracey Bedwell and "love you Mom" from the podium.

She had held her Union Jack high as she led the British team into the arena and was asked to perform at the closing gala, along with London 2012 competitors.

Zara began doing rhythmic gymnastics at the age of three and trains at the City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club.

"Her skills are out of this world," said family friend Roxie Harris, who helped raise the £1,500 to send the teenager to the world championships.

"She's truly inspirational - she works hard at everything she does and is a friend to everybody. To know her is to love her."

Zara had at first declined the offer to compete in the world championships due to lack of funding.

But family and friends pulled together to raise the cash.

Contributions included £1,000 from kind-hearted members of the Cock and Magpies Golf Society, who played their annual charity shield game for her.

Her mother, Lisa Higgins, said: "Gymnastics means everything to Zara.

"Her first words every morning are 'gym today?'.

"The look on Zara's face when she competes is pure happiness.

"Thank you everyone for making Zara's dream come true."