Meet Olivia: she loves Shakespeare, is a jazz pianist and could give Theo Walcott a run for his money with her football skills.

But just two years ago, when the sports mad ten-year-old was told she would lose the ability to walk she decided to set her goals on becoming a Paralympian instead.

Fortunately, this was a misdiagnosis and after two hip operations, Olivia Lava has been signed to play for the Under 11s team at Arsenal Ladies Football Club.

Olivia, who lives in Mill Hill, with her brother, Fabio, seven, and her parents, Susan and Roberto, began training with Arsenal Ladies Football Club aged six.

When she began limping aged eight, her concerned parents took her to the doctor who diagnosed her with Perthes Disease, which would have left her in a wheelchair.

Much to their relief, a second doctor later said she had a condition in her hip which was easily corrected – albeit by a series of invasive operations.

She said: “It was hard because sport has been my life since the moment I was born. I swim, I play football, tennis and basketball and like running so I hated being still. I had to be positive though."

After her first operation at the Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital in February 2013 she had to take six months off the sport she loves.

But after spending weeks on crutchets and nearly four months away from classes at St Vincent's School in Mill Hill, she felt strong enough to retrain with the team that June – and got in.

In February this year she had a second operation and after spending two weeks on crutchets, she dived straight back into her football.

She said: "When I was in hospital I was so hungry I could eat a zebra and I was quite scared about having my operation, but it was okay in the end."

When asked how many goals she has scored in her short yet impressive career, she said: “I only focus on the team, I don’t count my goals because it’s not yourself that matters in football, it is the other players.

“Arsenal Football Club have been really supportive. I also want to thank Nick Stirvuent, who is the best sports coach in the world.”

Over the years, Olivia has earned a bundle of medals for her various talents and now has her sights set on training.

As well as playing football, she also juggles a modelling career with playing the piano and reading books – her favourite being Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Her mother, Susan, said: “She may still need another operation in ten years' time but she's okay for now.

"I admire her so much. When we thought she couldn’t walk she said ‘it’s okay mum, I’ll be a Paralympian’. I thought, wow.”