Rose flies off on golden mission (From Bucks Free Press)

Rose flies off on golden mission

8:42am Friday 29th August 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

IAN Rose has already got silver and bronze medals in his collection now he wants that elusive gold.

The High Wycombe judo player sets off for his fifth Paralympics today and he is a man on a mission.

He said: "I have bronzed, silvered and hopefully now it's time for gold."

Rose has been World Champion and is a four-time European Champion, but he knows there is nothing quite like the Paralympics and watching the success of the British team at the Olympics has made him want that golden gong even more.

He said: "Watching the guys getting those gold medals with the red ribbons around their necks makes me want it even more.

"I want to be coming home on a plane with a gold nose. There's one medal that I haven't won in my career and this is it. If I don't do it there will be a part of me that will always wish I could have done it."

The visually impaired player, who lost the sight in his left eye following a childhood cancer, admits that he still regards his silver from the last Paralympics as something of a let-down.

Rose who trains at the 61 Judo Club and the High Wycombe Judo centre is ranked number three in the world, but he goes into the Games on the back of an injury-hit build up.

He broke his metatarsal at a training camp in April, sidelining him for seven weeks.

He said: "I thought it was the end. I thought it was me done for the Games, but within seven weeks I was back on the mat."

He has now fully recovered and he reckons it may even help him in his Beijing bid.

He said: "Being out gave me a rest and gave me my hunger back and I feel ready to go out there and give it everything I have got. If Ian Rose goes to his full potential there is no reason why he can't come back with a medal and I wouldn't be competing if I didn't think I could win it.

"There's something inside me that says I'm not finished yet. People ask me when I'm going to retire and I say when I start losing - but at the moment I'm still reaching semi-finals and still winning."

Rose won't know who he is fighting until he reaches China and he admits the nerves have been growing as he's been watching the able-bodied athletes star in Beijing.

His Olympics begin with the weigh-in on September 9.

He said: "I've been getting more and more nervous watching the Olympics on television and the nerves will really be racing when I go for the weigh-in. There's a lot of pressure, but it will be whoever handles that the best who will win the gold medal."

And before he set off on his medal bid he paid thanks to his wife Debbie and children, Leah and Jordyn who will be at home in Hicks Farm Rise watching the Games on television.

He also thanked the guys at the 61 Judo Club in Amersham and his coach Paul Jordan along with Alan Green and the team at the Wycombe Judo Centre.

• Print
• Email
• Share