David Roberts Aims to Over Haul Tanni Grey-Thompson en Route to Paralympic Greatness

With a year to go until the London Paralympics gets underway, Welsh swimmer David Roberts is more excited about the prospect than most. He is currently an eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist, having competed at three games.

One more gold medal will put Roberts above Welsh compatriot Tanni Grey-Thompson in terms of gold medals won, but he is not putting any extra pressure on himself ahead of the London games.

“The only expectations and pressure will be put on by myself,” Roberts said. “I’m the only person I will really listen to. My coach will put pressure on me and I will put pressure on myself and that’s it really.

“Eleven Olympic golds is great, I know I’m equal with Tanni, which means one more medal and I will be outright most successful. That is an exciting place to be. 

“We will cross that bridge when it comes down to it, but the most important thing is to qualify first of all, once you’ve qualified anything can happen.”

Roberts was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 11 and explains he only started to take swimming seriously after that point.

“I’ve swum all my life, but only started to compete and take it seriously from the age of 11 after I went to swimming therapy and actually realised I was pretty quick and good at it.

“It was something I thought I would probably enjoy. I didn’t really know what the Paralympics were at this point. Obviously the more you do a sport, the more you see it and the more you think ‘I want to do it.’ That’s what happened in my case. 

“I would like to think that I’ve led my life to the full and I’ve proven that disability isn’t anything more than a word. It’s not a barrier, it’s just a word and hopefully people can see that.”

South African 400m runner Oscar Pistorius became the first Paralympic athlete to compete at the World Champonships in Daegu this summer; something Roberts feels is a positive move for Paralympic sport.

“He’s qualified in his own right for the able-bodied World Championships in Daegu,” the 31-year-old continued. “Oscar is there on merit, he had a qualifying time he had to hit just like all the other athletes that are there. He hit the time and he deserves to be there.

“I think Oscar could be the first of many Paralympians to compete at an able-bodied Games. Obviously it’s hard but why not? If you’re good enough there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be there.” 

London will be the first time that a Paralympics will not be shown on the BBC. However, Channel 4 have taken up the mantel and have screened a number of cutting-edge documentaries in the build up to the Games next year.

“Channel 4 have done a fantastic job with their coverage of the Paralympics so far,” he continued. “The Paralympic show they have done is brilliant and it has given the public an opportunity to see Paralympic athletes who we are outside of sport.

“They did a feature with me walking my dog on the bay in Cardiff, nothing to do with swimming whatsoever, which is great. They have the video diaries with athletes and it gives you an opportunity to get to know the person behind the sport.

“When it comes to the games people will see me as David the swimmer and think ‘That’s the guy who walks his crazy dog around the bay in Cardiff.’ A lot of people have recognised me because of the show and that’s a nice thing. I think more people know my dog more than me but that’s because she’s a crazy creature.”

David Roberts joined Rebecca Adlington at The National Lottery's London 2012 Games hot air balloon tour launched at Tate Modern to thank Lottery players for their investment in London 2012. Visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk for more information.

Picture Caption: Double Olympic Champion Rebecca Adlington and 11 times Paralympic gold medallist David Roberts launch The National Lottery London 2012 Games hot air balloon tour at Tate Modern to thank lottery players for their investment in London 2012.

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