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John Robertson 

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The three-strong team of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas have tasted success after success after joining forces in the three-person Paralympic keelboat. Having finished sixth in their first Paralympic outing at Athens 2004, Robertson became the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar sailing to helm his crew to back-to-back IFDS World Championship titles in 2005 and 2006. However by their own admission they suffered an under-par Worlds last year – taking seventh in Rochester, USA and they will be desperate to force their way back on to the podium in Beijing. Thomas also represented Great Britain at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin as part of the Ice Sledge Hockey team that finished seventh.

 

VITAL STATISTICS…

Name:

John Robertson

Class:

Sonar Class

Position:

Helm

DOB:

11 February 1972

Born:

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Currently Living:

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Started Sailing:

Aged 11 with my father in a Mirror

Duration in current class:

Since 1997

Name of Sailing Partner:

Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas

Coach:

Mark Rushall

Greatest Strengths in Sailing:

Keeping focused

Greatest Weakness in Sailing:

Starting

Biggest Goal:

To win a gold medal at the Beijing Paralympic Games 2008

Who has been the most influential person in your sailing career:

My coaches, Mark Barron and now Mark Rushall

Other interests away from sailing:

 Wheelchair tennis, general fitness training

Personal sponsors:

Oyster, Little Britain Challenge Cup

Sailing Career to date:

2004 Athens Paralympics                                6th

 

2007 IFDS Worlds                                                           6th

2006 IFDS Worlds                                                             Gold

2005 IFDS Worlds                                              Gold

2003 IFDS Worlds                                            Bronze

 

2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta Gold

2008 Hyeres Olympic Classes Regatta       Gold

2008 Paralympic Midwinters                             4th

2008 Rolex Miami OCR                                  4th 2007 Rolex Miami OCR                             Bronze
2005 Rolex Miami OCR                                Gold

Meet the sailor…

Who is John Robertson?

John was disabled as a result of a motorbike accident in 1994 and became the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar sailing to helm his crew to back-to-back IFDS World titles in 2005 & 2006, his greatest achievement he says.

Having won gold at the 2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta, Robertson once again has his eyes on the podium for the main event while he says keeping the focus and concentrating on your own race for the whole series is the toughest part of the sport. GP bike rider and multiple world champion Valentino Rossi is Robertson’s sporting hero and he expects several teams, including the Germans, Norwegians, Israelis, to provide the toughest opposition in Beijing.

Meet our sailors

Niki Birrell Niki Birrell
Helm in the 2 person Paralympic keelboat

Stephen Thomas Stephen Thomas
Mainsheet crew in the Sonar Paralympic Keelboat

All sailor profiles

Disappointment for Paralympians

Great Britain’s 2008 Beijing Paralympic sailing campaign has ended in disappointment in Qingdao today (Saturday 13 September). Britain’s sailors went in to the final day of the six-day regatta still ...

September 13, 13:49 in Press Release
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