A PARALYMPIC champion who was mugged in London will be reunited with his gold medal on Monday.

Darren Kenny, 34, from Verwood, was robbed near Charing Cross earlier this month as he returned to his hotel after celebrating his success at the British Olympic Association's Gold Ball at the Savoy Hotel.

A gang of six thugs set on the disabled cyclist, who won two gold and two silver medals at the Paralympics in Athens last month.

They fled with Kenny's treasured gold medals, his mobile phone and cash.

The father-of-one, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and is paralysed down his right side, was shocked but uninjured.

Just days later he was thrilled when the Metropolitan police contacted him to say the missing medal had been found.

"I couldn't believe it when a police officer phoned to say someone had tried to sell on my medal at a shop in London," said Darren.

"Fortunately the shopkeeper contacted the police. I will be so relieved to get it back and am extremely grateful to the person who handed it in. I never thought I would get my medal back.

"It's heavy but I don't suppose it worth much to anyone else. To me it's irreplaceable and very precious."

Kenny, who is a member of the Bournemouth Fircroft Arrow Hotel club, took two golds in the European Championships last autumn and was named the Royal Variety Club's disabled sportsman of the year in June.

He will be reunited with his gold medal on Monday when he and other victorious paralympics will attend a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

First published: Oct 21