By Tom Degun

April 28 - Sean Rose (pictured), the first British disabled skier to win a World Cup gold medal, has revealed that he had to use painkillers to cope with the pain of a horrific shoulder injury during the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games.



Rose, who was widely tipped for medal success in Canada, did not produce the form at the Paralympics that saw him claim a sensational gold at the prestigious World Cup event in Sestriere, Italy.

But Britain’s most successful disabled sit-skier revealed that he was having to use medication to get through the immense discomfort he was in after he picked up an injury in training just days before his events. 

Rose said: "I do not know why, but my ski fell off during training before a Paralympics race, damaging my shoulder socket, splitting a ligament and tearing muscles.

"I had to ski on painkillers."

With a badly injured shoulder, Rose still managed to come seventh in the downhill competition and eighth in the slalom.

In the Super G however, Rose was blisteringly quick and looked set for a medal finish before his ski flew off again midway through the race.

He said: "I could not believe it.

"This equipment had taken me through the best racing season of my life without trouble.

"My shoulder will be operated on within the next few months and I hope to be at next year’s World Cup.

"I also intend to medal for Britain in the next Paralympic Games [in Sochi in 2014].

"When things go wrong you can either give up or get on."

Rose, who was speaking to the Bedford Breakfast Club at The Bedfordshire Golf Club, though, did admit that he had a fantastic time in Vancouver despite the pressure he was under to achieve a medal.

He said: "I was so pleased to be in the Paralympic village; it is a great place filled with fantastic people.

"Unlike the 2006 Paralympics, this time there was enormous pressure on me to medal, but it did not work out."

And despite his disappointing performances in Vancouver, Rose maintains he will never regret what he has done in his career, particularly after achieving his dream of winning World Cup gold.

He recalls the moment he won gold vividly as he said: "I flew across the line at white knuckle speed and remember everyone cheering.

"Receiving the medal with the national anthem playing put a lump in my throat.

"It was one of the best feelings in my life."

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March 2010:
 Gallagher impresses again but Rose wilts
March 2010: Rose Paralympic tune-up gives him confidence
February 2010: Sean Rose - I want the world to take British skiers seriously
January 2010: Rose heads British Alpine skiing selection for Vancouver 2010 Paralympics
January 2010: Rose in full bloom in Sestriere