OLYMPIC medallist Sally Walton, who used to work and train in Stourbridge, has picked up another prestigious accolade.

The star hockey player, who picked up a bronze medal along with her Team GB teammates at the London 2012 Olympic Games, has been awarded honorary life membership of Jim's Gym in Lye where she began training for her Olympic journey.

Sporting heroine Sally, who used to work at the old Peachy Keen smoothie bar in Stourbridge, is only the second person to ever be presented with the award in the history of the gym which has been going strong for more than 50 years.

The first was Stourbridge-based former bodybuilding legend Paul Nash, who was presented with the accolade after he won the NABBA Mr Universe contest in 1964.

Jim said: "Paul had his 50 years ago when he won the Class 1 Mr Universe contest before Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in 1966."

It has taken over half a century for Jim to find another worthy recipient - but he found it in Sally, who was part of the Team GB squad that clinched Britain’s first Olympic hockey medal since 1992.

He said: "She was an exceptionally hard trainer. To drive from Solihull, where she lived, twice a day to train here at 8am and 4pm - that's a tremendous effort."

Sally, who was presented with a gold and silver Jim's Gym badge, said: "Being awarded a lifetime membership to Jim's Gym is a huge honour and one which I will treasure.

"I met Jim at a really important time in my sporting career and his help with both facilities and specific training advice really helped motivate me to achieve the best I could with my sport."

The 34-year-old, who retired from international hockey in November due to knee problems, is now working at Solihull School as a hockey coach and has also started a personal training company Podium Fitness 23 offering home-delivered training programmes in the Birmingham area.

Meanwhile - veteran muscleman trainer, judge and contest organiser Jim, aged 76, is bringing one of the biggest shows in bodybuilding back to Birmingham later this year.

The NABBA Mr Universe contest, which Jim has organised for decades, used to take place at the ICC in Birmingham but has been running in Southport since 1999.

However - it is now set to return to Britain's second city after a 16-year break and will be held at Birmingham's Symphony Hall on October 29.

Qualifying rounds will be held at Brierley Hill Civic Hall on April 24 and October 16.

Jim said: "We're very excited. It holds about 2,000 people and it's the best venue. I never dreamed they'd put bodybuilding on there. It's nice to be back in a city. We used to hold it in London many years ago at The Palladium and The Old Vic - that's where Arnold competed."

To find out more about the show go to www.nabba.co.uk and for more on Sally's latest venture check out Podium Fitness 23 on Facebook.