By David Gold

ianrose.jpg.displayNovember 4 - Five time Paralympic Games judo competitor, Ian Rose, looks likely to miss out on London 2012 he came out of retirement to qualify for because of an injury and admits he needs a "miracle" to compete.


The 39-year-old said that his chances of making the Paralympics next year are minute, but refuses to give up completely after snapping an anterior cruciate ligament three weeks ago.

"If the operation next Thursday (November 10) is a success and the injury isn't as bad as it appears on the scan, then there is a very slim chance I could compete in London," he said.

"But, barring a miracle, I won't be there.

"There is just not enough time to get through the rehab and get into medal-winning condition.

"Six months is the bare minimum.

"That would take us to May and I probably need four months [to be] fully fit.

"It's the worst injury I've had. I've never done it before.

"The ACL is like a big elastic band and I heard it snapping.

"I thought I'd just pulled a few muscles in my knee so I kept going down the gym waiting for it to get better.

"But it didn't get better, it got worse."

Rose first competed at a Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and has claimed both the European and World Championship titles during a distinguished career.

In ActionHe has also collected one bronze and one silver medal at Paralympic Games – at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, respectively.

He had retired due to a back injury after Beijing in 2008 but came out of retirement due to the lure of competing in a home Games.

"I'm gutted, not just for myself, but for my family who have given me so much support, for all the local clubs which have helped me by letting me train for free," Rose added.

"I've got to consider what I'm going to do with the rest of my life now."

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