SCOTS judo star Stephanie Inglis who suffered life-changing injuries in a motorbike accident is aiming to defy a surgeon's caution that a return to the sport might cause her serious risk.
The 28-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist, is planning a return to competitive bouts and to compete again for medals a year after the crash in Vietnam which doctors said gave her one per cent chance of survival.
Ms Inglis, who won her medal at Glasgow 2014, had been in Vietnam for about four months, teaching underprivileged children, when she suffered serious head injuries after being dragged from the back of a motorcycle taxi in May, last year, and was in a coma for four weeks.
Her skirt is believed to have become unravelled while using a motorbike taxi and got caught in the wheel.
The judo star, who is from Daviot, near Inverness, but has been living in Dunfermline has started working for a car hire firm for a couple of days a week, and has even helped her father Robert with some coaching, but has her sights on competing in the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
She said: "I have had talks with my surgeon and he is really not keen for me to return to the sport. Just because it is a full contact sport, [there's] a risk of another head injury and I wouldn't come through that.
"However, I spoke to another surgeon and he said your brain is like any other muscle, if you break your leg, for example, when it's fixed it's fixed.. when you're brain's healed it's healed.
"I think I am going to give myself a couple of years to fully recover and let everything settle down and then go back and maybe get more tests done, and scans and weigh up the risks and the possibilities of returning then."
Stephanie, left, with fellow Team Scotland judoka Connie Ramsay
But she told the BBC that the "long term goal" is the Commonwealth Games in five years time, when she will be 33, adding: "I'd like to compete there, so... in my head if I am back training and on the mat by 2020, then I have a good chance of qualifying and hopefully winning another medal. That's what my goal would be. "
Her father, a judo coach said the issue is with the titanium cap in her head, which is bolted on, adding that if it were to move "that could be a problem".
He said: "She's keen, it [the prospect of a return] is keeping her motivated. Just now everything has gone well."
She has paid tribute to friend Khalid Gehlan who set up a crowdfunding campaign to pay for her medical costs, which raised around £350,000. It was set up after it emerged her travel insurance was not valid because she had been in the country more than 31 days.
Sister Stacey Inglis, father Robert and mother Alison Inglis with Stephanie's childhood friend Khalid Gehlan in Edinburgh
A year after the accident, Ms Inglis also took to social media to thank those who set up the "Save Steph" campaign.
She said she had a day of "mixed emotions and reflection" and added: "I'm very happy with the progress and recovery I have made.
"A year ago I was given one per cent chance of survival and the doctors wanting to turn off the life support machines to now well on my way to making 100% recovery!!
"It feels strange to think all that's happened in a year and how my life has so drastically changed but one thing has not changed since I arrived back in the UK in August and that's how thankful and lucky I feel to have come this far.
" I cannot thank everyone enough who helped support me by fund raising, spreading awareness or sending me encouraging messages thank you all!!!
"And I would never have made the recovery I have done without so many wonderful and very special people around me helping me. So to my closest friends and family you all know who you are thank you for being there for me it means everything to me! Sending lots of love!! Nothing is impossible!!"
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