Sascha Kindred and Dave Roberts will not compete at the 2011 Berlin European Championships
Two of Great Britain’s most important Paralympic swimmers, Sascha Kindred and Dave Roberts will not be able to compete at the 2011 Berlin European Championships due to their respective injuries.
Kindred is a multi-stroke expert, as he has conquered medals in breast-stroke, butterfly and the Individual Medley (IM) at different Paralympics, whereas, Roberts is Britain’s freestyle expert.
Roberts will miss the upcoming European event due to his fractured elbow, as he has not recovered from the severe injury. Meanwhile, Kindred is suffering from a back problem, which has put a halt on his training program.
Kindred has represented his country at four Paralympic Games and has captured six gold, two silver and three bronze medals, during his entire swimming career. He won gold medals in the events of 200m IM, 100m breast-stroke at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics,
2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Meanwhile, Roberts has pocketed eleven gold, four silver and one bronze medal, during his participation at the same Olympic Games. He won gold medals in the events of 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and the 4*100m freestyle at these Games.
"I am obviously really disappointed not to be able to attend the Europeans but I feel that with my ongoing back problem, competing at such a high level would have been detrimental for my recovery and my focus now will be on London 2012," said Kindred while
speaking to reporters.
The European Championships, being held in July, are the last major event of competitive swimming before the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
Roberts was also upset for missing the European Championships, "I am massively disappointed to be missing the European Championships. It was the final chance to test myself against the best in the world in Germany before the London Paralympics."
Roberts also revealed that after his recovery from the elbow injury, he will put all his efforts to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games and said that he will try to defend his main events at the home Olympics.
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