david roberts is finding it much “It has taken blood sweat and tears, a lot of most of the things I saw in school,” he said.
harder to do his shopping in asda, hard work, a lot of soul-searching and I will
with the number of people coming continue to do so and try to get better.” “I was not diagnosed as having cerebral palsy
up to congratulate him until I was 11, so that was 11 years of my
Roberts spearheaded the remarkable Welsh parents battling to fi nd out what was going
All part of having lifted himself into the success at the Paralympics, earning a quarter on.
top bracket of recognisable Welsh sporting of the Team GB gold medals while several
stars with his four gold medals in the other medallists are based in Wales and “I was recommended to go to a disabled
Beijing Paralympics, tying Dame Tanni Grey- benefi t from the Welsh system. swimming club in Cardiff and just see how I
Thompson’s record tally of 11 gold medals fancied it. Obviously I took to it like a duck to
in all. There is no doubt that Disability Wales, under water and really enjoyed it.
the guidance of John Morgan at the Sports
he is young enough to become britain’s most Council for Wales, is producing outstanding “then i was at the stage where i really
successful ever Paralympic athlete in London results. needed to go to an able-bodied swimming
2012, though he is still a bit coy about his club. Being a disabled person at that point
future plans as he get used to the star status Roberts has a simple explanation for the made it hard to fi nd an able-bodied club who
which has come with his latest achievements. success. “Pride, passion, hunger, small country would take you on because they were afraid
mentality – we have to be the best at of disabilities.
“I will never ever get used to that. I went everything we do.”
shopping in Asda the other day and people “Thankfully Billy Pye at Bridgend County
were chasing me around after autographs and And that is something that Roberts has were a forward thinking club and I went for
things,” he said. certainly achieved in his three Olympic an hour and a half trial with their squad and
games. at the end they said I was in because there
“It is only then you realise you have done was not anything they were doing that I could
something very special, which is good. Typically the fi rst person to raise the idea that not do.
he would equal or beat her 11 gold tally was
“It is unbelievable, dream achieved. Obviously Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson herself. “Now we have a performance centre in
now I have got 11 gold medals, do I want Swansea and we are out of those able-bodied
more? Time will tell with that one, but it is “I did a press conference for the London clubs, but there are kids still with those clubs
the greatest feeling on earth.” 2012 Games with Tanni and she was the fi rst throughout Wales which is really exciting.”
person to ask me if I thought I could beat her
His position was confi rmed when Roberts medal tally,” he said. Billy Pye is a former miner and one of the
was chosen to carry the British fl ag at the world’s top coaches – his swimmers alone
closing ceremony. “To be as successful as Tanni would be equalled the tally of the 14 th country in the
massive because she is a household name, Paralympics international medal chart.
At the return of the Paralympians, with a not just in Wales and Britain, but in the
public reception on the steps of the Senedd world. Growing up knowing about her was He is a key component in the support
in Cardiff Bay, Roberts was undoubtedly the something. network which has helped Roberts fulfi l his
star attraction getting the biggest cheers. talent after bursting onto the scene with
“If I can continue the work that Tanni did seven medals in the 2000 Olympics.
“That was unbelievable, I felt like a bit of a then that would be even better. It is quite
rock star – I wanted to do a crowd surf,” he something for a small country like Wales “In Sydney I was focussed on my racing, but
joked. to have the top female and the top male I also went for a laugh and to enjoy myself. It
Paralympic athletes ever.” could have been my only one so I wanted to
The question he was being asked time after make the most of it,” he said.
time, on the steps of the Senedd, in the press Roberts was born in Llantwit Fardre with
conference, during the many media interviews cerebral palsy, but it took a long time to get “I was unknown before Sydney and Elite
and in the private reception afterwards was the right diagnosis. He started swimming as Cymru allowed me to get the times that
– having tied with Dame Tanni, will he go for a form of physical therapy, but there was not meant I could compete there, while Disability
more in London 2012. the same understanding of disability sport Sport Wales provided mentoring, coaching
that you would expect now. and lots of other things if I needed help.”
david roberts
“I don’t know, I will take a bit of time, target
the Commonwealth Games in the next two “I am from the Valleys and life is tough in the It has all meant that shopping will never be
years and then sit down and think about it,” Valleys so it certainly forms your character. the same again for David Roberts, with even
SW
was the answer. To get in the pool and race is quite easy after more success beckoning in 2012.
27
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