Massey University School of Psychology student Mary Fisher will return to New Zealand with five gold medals after dominating her events at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Swimming World Championships in Montreal.

Ms Fisher, who was a four-time medal winner at the London Paralympics last year, earned another two medals at the championships.

The visually impaired 20-year-old, who is a second -year Bachelor of Science student majoring in psychology at Massey’s Wellington campus, is categorised as being totally blind and swims in the S11 class. This requires her to wear blackened goggles and for someone to tap her as she approaches the swimming pool wall.

Ms Fisher won the SM11 women individual medley title to add to her earlier wins in the SM11 100 metre backstroke, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle. She also won a silver in the 400m freestyle.

It follows a whirlwind 12 months after winning silver and two bronze medals at London, she secured three best world marks in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly at the nationals last March, then added three short course 50m records in Sydney for freestyle, butterfly and backstroke.

Campus student advisor (Disability) Heather McCallum says, before leaving for the world championships Ms Fisher had to work hard and fast to submit all her assignments due while she was away. "We have all been cheering her on from afar, she is a brilliant athlete."