In October last year triathlete Karen Smith was involved in a horrific collision with a car while competing in the World Age Group Championships in Hawaii.

With the traffic building up at all the junctions which lined the cycling course, patience was wearing thin. And even though there were course marshals on patrol stopping people from driving across the route, one driver decided he'd had enough.

Unfortunately he completely mistimed his move and ploughed straight into Smith as she pedalled along at full speed.

She suffered a broken nose and a deep gash to her right knee, while the force of the impact caused her cycling helmet to become embedded in the back of her scull which required six staples to close up the wound.

This was not the first crash for Smith either.

In May, 2002 she suffered a seriously bruised arm which required hospital treatment after a multi-bike pile up in a Southside road race.

But five months on, the 38-year-old mother of two is back at full strength and heading to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games.

“There were points when I didn't think I would be back for the Games,” she said yesterday.

“It was a pretty horrible accident and it took around two months before I was ready to get back training again. When I came back to Bermuda I had a whole bunch of tests and scans and I was in a pretty bad state.

“I then found out I'd broken my nasal bone and had to have it reset. So I lost quite a bit of momentum in terms of my training and it was hard getting back into it. It's never easy beginning your training again after a long layoff and I found it really hard at first. But it's a pretty amazing being back and just about to go to the Commonwealth Games after all that happened.

“I'm feeling unbelievably great. The last two months in particular have been really intensive but very fulfilling at the same time. I've been working hard with (national cycling coach) Greg Hopkins while (running coach) Steven Burgess has helped me a lot as well and the two disciplines have been feeding off each other. I've got some excellent swimming partners as well so really things could not be going better.”

Smith is no stranger to the Commonwealths and finished a creditable 15th in Manchester in 2002.

She is hoping to improve on this Down Under, but is under no illusions as to her medal hopes among a relatively small, but nonetheless world class, field in the female triathlon.

“There's no doubt in my mind that I'm stronger than I was last time so I'm looking to improve my position,” she said

“There are only about 20 or 25 women competing in the triathlon but a lot of them are seriously good. Down in that part of the world, triathlon is such a big sport and most of the top athletes are full time and have fantastic facilities. I've got a job and two kids so obviously I am at a serious disadvantage. But I know that if everything goes to plan on the day, I can certainly hold my own.”