Alisa Camplin is looking to be back on skis some time around Christmas after making initial steps in rehabilitation that have significantly exceeded the expectations of her medical team.

Camplin's range of motion in her injured knee, her muscle tone and the degree of swelling are all far better than expected, and the 2002 Salt Lake gold medallist will resume activities in the gym later this week.

"I've got full extension in my knee and I can bend it up to 120 degrees now," Camplin said.

"I'm walking without crutches already, my muscle contraction and strength is good, and there's no pain, so everyone is rapt."

Having supervised Camplin's recovery from her last injury, Olympic Winter Institute physiotherapist Randall Cooper is delighted with the progress this time.

"Alisa is doing exceptionally well," Cooper said.

"it's just five days since the operation now, and at this stage she is where she was after six or seven weeks last time."

"She's really flying. We couldn't imagine any knee performing better than Alisa's is at the moment."

"With the Olympics so close she is on a very tight timetable, and at the moment she's right on it."

Camplin has already met the qualifying criteria for the Torino 2006 Australian team. The Games begin on February 10.

Olympic Winter Institute