The 32-year-old Welshman, who has cerebral palsy, had failed to gain nomination to Britain's after illness and injury affected his form.

He missed the first stage of trials in London and then failed to make the qualifying times in Sheffield in April and, when the 16-strong team was announced last month, Roberts not selected.

However, an appeal was immediately launched and it has now been announced that British Swimming and the national performance director John Atkinson are now required to reconsider their decision.

"Words just cannot describe how I feel," said Roberts.

"As a professional athlete I eat, sleep and breathe the Paralympics and it's a fantastic feeling to know that, after months of waiting and hoping, I could still be part of such a strong team in such an amazing event.

"It was my dream to compete in the Paralympics in Britain, in the home nation of my family and friends, but when I heard I didn't make the team my dream was completely shattered.

"Now I feel vindicated in taking the appeal process this far – it's incredible to come away with a decision in my favour after such a difficult last few months."

Roberts made his Paralympic debut at Sydney in 2000 when he won three gold medals.


He then won four gold medals in Athens four years later and another four in Beijing in 2008. 

Roberts also has four silver medals and a bronze.

Another medal in London would take him ahead of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and make him Wales' most successful Paralympic athlete, although he still has a long way to go to beat the British record held by another swimmer, Mike Kenny, who won 16 gold medals between 1976 and 1988. 

A statement from British Swimming stated: "British Swimming has received an early indication of the appeal panel's findings in relation to Mr David Roberts but is yet to receive the full, written decision.

"The summary states the panel does not uphold the appeal against objective criteria set out in the selection policy but does ask British Swimming to reconsider selection under discretionary criteria within the policy based around fitness and medical issues.

"Before implementing this process British Swimming will study the appeal panel's full decision when received."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2012: ParalympicsGB swimming nominees confirmed to compete at London 2012
April 2012: Heartbreak for Roberts as he is left out of Britain's London 2012 squad
April 2012: Simmonds looking good for London 2012 glory but Roberts faces anxious wait