KATE Allenby, Tavistock's Olympic pentathlete star, threw down a sporting challenge of her own on return from her triumph at the Sydney Games.
The bronze medal winner dumped three black dustbin bags on to the kitchen floor and asked her mum if a quilt could be made from the hundreds of T-shirts she had collected since she began competing in sport at the age of 12.
Gill Allenby, who is quite a champion with the needle, poured herself into the titanic task and the result of her hard work is now on show in the window of Moor Silks and Quilts in Tavistock's Market Street.
The 'peculiar-shaped' king size quilt took Gill nine months to complete.
'It was a huge challenge as every single piece - and there are hundreds - had to be backed with a stabilising fabric because T-shirts are made from very stretchy material,' explained Gill.
'It was typical of Kate to throw the T-shirts at me and expect a quilt just like that. All she asked was when could she pick it up!'
Although Kate saw the multi-coloured quilt in the making, she has yet to glimpse the finished product as currently she is in training in Budapest, but should see it on her bed when she returns home for Christmas.
'My mum is an Olympic athlete with a sewing needle,' she said.
Gill made part of the quilt at the Wednesday afternoon open house sessions at Moor Silks and Quilts run by Katherine Leatherby.
'I needed advice and we shared ideas,' said Gill. 'You take along your own project and, as mine was turning into rather a peculiar shape, I found it very helpful. It was certainly a case of blood, sweat and tears.'
Then who can forget the unforgettable TV pictures as her daughter poured blood, sweat and tears into her final run just a year ago to win that bronze medal.
Katherine said many people had stopped to admire the quilt in the shop window without realising the story behind it.
'I think she's done really well, we are just so pleased and Gill is very chuffed,' she said.