21-year-old former gymnast cheated death in a hit and run because of training Former champion gymnast left with broken neck after 'boy racers' knocked her down Acrobatic training 'saved her life' as she rolled into ball and broke her fall Dodged first car and struck by another that drove through red light at 60mph Miss Cameron is said to have escaped death because of her talents as a former gymnast A former champion gymnast has had almost all her bones broken in a 60mph hit-and-run. Sarah Cameron's acrobatic training and quick reflexes are said to have saved her life as she was thrown 20 metres by a speeding car. The Sheffield law student, who had celebrated her 21st birthday the day before, rolled herself into a ball to shield herself and managed to break her fall. Miss Cameron's years of gymnastics training kicked in when she tucked herself into a ball in mid-air and wrapped her arms around her head to protect her skull. Miss Cameron, who is a former junior European champion gymnast, broke her left leg, right hand, pelvis, collarbone, shoulder and vertebrae in her neck and has suffered widespread bruising. Police said the drivers ignored a red light and overtook a line of cars before the collision in Sheffield. The student, from Ossett, Wakefield, was walking home with her mother and two friends to open birthday presents, when the collision happened last Wednesday. Her mother Rachael Cameron, 48, said: 'She's in a very bad way and in a lot of pain. I saw everything, it was horrific. I can't believe she has survived. 'There aren't many bones in her body that aren't broken - it's going to take a long time to get her back to normal.' The third-year law student competed for the UK in gymnastic events and won a silver medalist at the sport's Junior World Cup. Mrs Cameron said: 'The gymnastics saved her as she's got such good reflexes. Sarah remembers being on the bonnet and then making sure she fell the right way. Sarah Cameron began acrobatic gymnastics aged 8. She stopped competing four years ago. Her father Colin said: 'I'm so grateful she had training as a gymnast, otherwise this could have been so much worse.' Sarah Cameron (pictured right) aged 11 before a gymnastics competition. The 21-year-old's father said her spacial awareness was key to surviving the crash She wrapped herself into a ball and got herself into the foetal position. It's amazing how she could react so quickly but that's why she is still alive.' Mrs Cameron said her daughter was crossing the road when the cars drove through a red light. Sarah crossed in front of me and this car came out of nowhere. The two cars must have been doing a minimum of 60mph. She jumped out of the way of the first car and into the path of the second. They were just two crazy boy racers. 'It's only a matter of time before they actually kill someone.' Sarah was due to sit her final law exam later this month, but now faces the prospect of graduating without her friends. Her father Colin, 52, who works as a banker, was abroad at the time of the accident. He said: 'I was actually working in Singapore when I got a call from Rachael. She was distraught. At that point I didn't know the extent of Sarah's injuries so it was a long flight home. 'I'm so grateful she had training as a gymnast, otherwise this could have been so much worse. The fact that she knew how to fall safely could have saved her life. 'She's got a very clear memory of what happened. She has great spacial awareness because of being a gymnast. She knew she was up in the air, and she managed to wrap her arms and hands around her head in a protective move, to stop her skull getting damaged. The former junior European champion gymnast has broken her neck and pelvis and is recovering from widespread bruising in hospital Miss Cameron had eaten at Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield (pictured) before she walked to her flat with her mother and two friends Sheffield Hallam University, where Sarah Cameron is in her final year studying law. She is due to sit her finals this month Miss Cameron, who has two older sisters Heather and Julie, started sports acrobatic gymnastics at the age of eight. She stopped competing at the age of 17, just before starting a degree at Sheffield Hallam University A South Yorkshire police spokesman said: 'The two cars approached the red traffic light at the crossing, overtook a line of stationary vehicles at the lights, ignored the red light and continued over the crossing colliding with the pedestrian. The woman was carried 20 metres before falling into the road. Both vehicles failed to stop at the scene and we would like help in identifying the vehicles and their drivers.