EASTER COMPTON-BASED triathlete Jane Leslie recovered from a heart scare to win her second European Championship gold medal in Israel.

The Thornbury RC member won her the ladies’ 60-64 category in the Aquathlon World Championships in Beijing last year, but it came at a cost as she competed too soon after going down with a bad virus, which caused her to suffer with arrhythmia.

Leslie said the problem affected her for about three or four months, but with the help of coach Graham Wadsworth she gradually built up her fitness to emulate her triumph at the 2010 European Championships in Ireland two years ago.

“It was a big lesson not to compete very hard after a virus,” said Leslie, who finished in a time of 2:55.27.

It’s been a challenge to get my fitness back but I’ve got a very good coach. He’s been very good, helping me get back in a measured way.

“I’m very pleased because the race wasn’t too bad. I could’ve done a better time, but I would’ve got a bronze in the age group below me.

“I felt well and now I ant to start proper training and go for it.”

The race took place in Eilat, comprising of a cycle in the desert and a swim in the Red Sea.

Leslie said: “It was fantastic going to Israel. The hardest thing is it was very hot.

“We were in the desert for the bike ride between Egypt and Jordan.

The run was in terrible heat, that was the toughest thing, but it was brilliant.

“It’s a lovely place to go and the race was well organised.”

Leslie went with Thornbury team-mate Jon Greenwood, who finished 12th in the men’s 55-59 category in a time of 2:41.47.