"The National Lottery has made the world of difference to me, my life, the way I train and ultimately the success that I have had."

One of Britain's greatest paralympians, Roberts took his gold medal tally to 11 in Beijing in 2008 with four successes to add to the four from Athens in 2004 and three from Sydney in 2000.

Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was 11, he took up swimming as way of physiotherapy. Three years later he was competing for his country and so began the start of an amazing career.

At his first Paralympics in Sydney, he left with eight medals: three golds, four silvers and a bronze.

How highly he is thought of in his home country - and beyond - was shown earlier this year when he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame at the same time as Welsh rugby legend JJ Williams.

He is determined for more success in 2010 after injury forced him out of action for most of the major competitions last year. His big events are the British International Disability Swimming Championships in April, the Paralympic World Cup in May and, providing he qualifies, the IPC World Swimming Championships in August.