Delhi 2010 – Darren Gardnier Withdraws Through Illness

Paralympic silver medallist and WAIS scholarship holder Darren Gardiner has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to illness.

The High Wycombe weightlifter made the heartbreaking decision to pull out of the event this week following diagnosis of severe bronchitis.

Gardiner, who lost his left leg below the knee to cancer, was to compete as an Elite Athlete with a Disability at Delhi in the para-sport powerlifting event.

He has previously won silver medals at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and a bronze medal in open EAD competition at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

“It’s absolutely devastating for myself, my family and my friends,” he said.

Competing in weightlifting since 1995, he said it was the worst timing to have the illness.

“My training had been good up until this point. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so I’m not going to let it get me down.”

Australian Weightlifting Federation chief executive and weightlifting coach Michael Keelan said he was notified of Darren’s withdrawal on Tuesday morning.

“Darren knows he doesn’t want to compete if he’s not going to be at his best,” Mr Keelan said.

“Breathing is so important in a sport like weightlifting because you need a good breathing structure to be successful. Having bronchitis really hinders that.”

Mr Keelan said the AWF was confident Darren could have bettered his bronze medal performance from the last games if he was fit.

– Wheelchair Sports