Paralympic duo forced to quit world stage

Paul Carter

Two British Paralympic medallists have been forced to retire from elite level competition on health grounds.

Reigning Paralympic rowing champion Helene Raynsford, and former World and European judo champion Ian Rose have both called time on their careers.

Raynsford, 30, who was also world champion in 2006, announced her decision on the eve of the Great Britain rowing team’s trials for the Paralympic boat classes.

“After my final in Beijing it was apparent something wasn’t right”, said Raynsford, who switched to rowing after enjoying success as a member of the GB wheelchair basketball team.

“Post-Beijing I became increasingly unwell and unable to train fully and I was diagnosed with a cardiac problem. I’ve been ill in the past but always got better and didn’t think for one moment I wouldn’t be racing in the 2009 season or would have to retire from the sport I love.

“It has been a very difficult decision to retire. My passion for rowing, striving for excellence and drive to be part of the international rowing community is very much still there but I have to let my body recover fully and this is something I can’t do while continuing to try to train,” she added.

Rose, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens and a bronze medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996 was also World Champion in 1995 and a four-time European Champion.

He was forced to rethink his plans to compete in front of a home crowd in London in 2012 after failing to recover from a persistent back injury.

He said: “My back injuries were stopping me training to the level I need to get a medal and I didn’t want to go into the competition thinking I wasn’t going to win a medal.”

However, the 37-year-old will remain in the sport after being offered a position as a co-ordinator for the development scheme at the British Judo Association.

He said: “I’ve been in judo for 30 years. Now is the time for me to give something back to the sport that has been so good to me for so long.

“I know I have made the right decision to retire but I know equally that I will find it very hard watching the London Paralympics and seeing people there that I have beaten in the past competing for the medals,” he added.