Olympic and world swimming champion Otylia Jedrzejczak could face eight years in prison after being charged with unintentionally causing a car crash two months ago in which her younger brother was killed.

The Polish swimmer has been questioned by prosecutors before the court at Plonsk, 70 kilometres northwest of Warsaw, where an accident on October 1 claimed the life of her 19-year-old brother Szymon.

Jedrzejczak, who was driving the car, could receive a sentence of between six months and eight years in prison.

The 21-year-old, who won the 200m butterfly title at the Athens Olympics last year and broke her own world record on her way to the world title in Montreal in July, was only released from hospital two weeks ago.

According to press reports the swimmer returned to the pool for the first time since the accident on Tuesday when she completed some light exercises, but will be unable to return to full training for several months.

Jedrzejczak had been attempting to overtake a line of cars when her Chrysler went off the road and crashed into a tree. Her brother, who was killed instantly, was also a swimmer and competed at the Polish national championships.

AFP