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Monday 29 August marks
one year until the London 2012 Paralympic Games and to recognise
the occasion we spoke to Ian Rose, one of the most decorated British
judo players in history and now he’s returned to bid for a sixth
Games appearance next year.
Was it the lure
of the Paralympics in London which brought you back to judo?
To be honest, yes, it was.
I got injured after Beijing and obviously thought that was me
done. Beijing was my fifth Paralympics and I come out with a back
injury and just couldn’t see how I could repair it for me to train
to the right level to compete.
Paralympic Programme Manager
Dave Sanders had some talks at the end of 2010 and what he was
saying really fitted where I was at that time in my life and through
the stretching and rehab I’ve done myself at home, it’s a made
a difference to my back and it’s much better.
So with assistance from
the British Judo Association and the British Judo Performance
Institute and it just went from there. I’ve been training since
January with the Visually Impaired squad.
What’s been the
reaction to your return from your family, friends and everyone
around you?
Everyone has been very
supportive and understanding. I have supportive family, my wife
and children are right behind me. I have a very good network of
coaches around me pushing me along the way – the older you get
the harder training becomes. It’s not that you do more but rather
it’s harder to recover between sessions and I need that network
around me to keep pushing me because it’s going to hurt you know
(laughs).
How difficult is
to strike a balance with your full-time work and judo?
After retiring I started
working for the British Athletes Commission which is an elite
athletes club and I actually have a 9-5 job as well as my training
to get me ready for London. I also do my motivation speaking –
you can’t do five Paralympic Games without having stories to tell.
Sport takes over your life, if people enjoy what you’re saying
and get something from it then that’s great.
Where does your
own motivation come from?
It’s quite simple, a Paralympics
gold medal is the only one I haven’t won, I’ve won all the rest
and that’s the one I want. When I retired after Beijing injury
stopped me there but mentally I wasn’t ready to finish. All the
constraints of injury and limiting factors have been taken away
and it’s left a pathway open. Seeing if I’ve still got it in me
and wanting that gold medal is what’s driving me. It’s a personal
battle as much as anything.
What are your thoughts
on the VI squad you rejoined in January?
We have a very good squad
and a very good chance of medals next year. Ben Quilter (VI World
Champion and IBSA World Games winner) is on fire, he’s taking
over the world and it’s about time. He’s been training his socks
off for many, many years. Joe Ingram has come on a lot, he’s strong
and on his day he’s a real big chance of a medal. Sam Ingram is
coming back from injury and the brothers will be there to be reckoned
with. The Powell brothers too are young but could be stars of
the future and who knows on their day, watch out for them in Rio
too!
As a five-time
Paralympian and one of the most decorated VI judo players in history
you must be something of a role model for the rest of the squad?
Possibly. I’m playing it
quietly, I’m an underdog and that’s the way I went into Athens
and I took silver there. I’m not ranked at the moment, my big
goal at the moment is the VI European Championships in Crawley
in November, that’s my major test and doing well there would help
my seeding next year.
Your first competition
back was the VI US Open in July where you took a silver medal.
What was that experience like?
It was so nerve-wracking
being back, I was shaking like a leaf. I’ve never felt that nervous.
It was a relatively small event but a lot of it was apprehension.
Can I move properly on the mat? Will techniques still work? All
that was going around in my head, the fear of the unknown, but
it worked out well in the end.
How have you settled
back into training?
Training is going well.
I train at a number of clubs in the High Wycombe area such as
Micklefield Judo Club and they are all putting me through my paces.
I’ve also been to the Budokwai and everyone is having an input
into my training and competitions which I thank them for. I’ve
also worked with some great talent at the BJPI and the fantastic
network they have there.
As a Paralympic
Games veteran what’s it like to be on the verge of competing at
a home Games?
It’s brilliant to get the
buzz and all that stuff on the one hand but I’m trying to forget
about it, we have a year to go and you never know what’s around
the corner. So I’m trying to distance myself a little bit and
do the right things as far as training is concerned to get as
fit and strong as I can.
Hopefully a few months
before the Games the buzz will intensify and I can think of it
as a normal games.
For the first time
this year Britain will host the VI European Championships ( www.ibsajudoeurochamps2011.co.uk
) at K2 Crawley from 18-20 November which will be a key event
for all countries ahead of 2012. What’s it going to be like to
compete at such a significant event on home soil in the run-up
to the Games?
It’s come at the right
time! For any athlete that’s competing you need to test yourself
at the biggest events a year out from the Games. There’ll be a
great calibre of judoka there and it’ll be a great test for me.
The British team and I
would love to be spurred on by a packed home crowd so come along
and support us. Give is a little bit of inspiration, it’s a big
year for us and if your looking to get Paralympic tickets then
why not come along to the event and find out more about VI judo.
It’s one of our last tests before the Games and our last chance
to do so on home soil, so we’d love to see big home crowd and
we’ll be sure to make everyone proud.
Your must have
envisaged Paralympic gold in London as a fitting finale for your
illustrious career?
London is definitely my
last one (laughs). If I get there I’ll be 40 when I step onto
the mat and I’m going to give it my best shot. If that’s good
enough for a medal then come, let’s go!
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