Paralympic champion Kindred cautious about hopes for IPC Worlds

SIX-TIME Paralympic swimming champion Sascha Kindred insists he's treating this summer's IPC World Swimming Championships as more of a scouting mission than a medal hunt.

INSPIRATION: Sascha Kindred played down his hope for this summer's World Championships during a Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week event in Wakefield

The 32-year-old will arrive in Eindhoven in August as one of the favourites to take to the podium, after smashing two world records en-route to claiming double Games gold in Beijing two years ago.

But with his energies focussed on repeating the medal rush at London 2012, Kindred admits he wouldn't be surprised if he was upstaged in the Netherlands.

"I'm training well at the moment but I'm not going to Eindhoven with any great expectations," said Kindred.

"I'm training quite hard but I am really building towards London 2012 so it certainly isn't a make-or-break event for me.

"It is good to get back in the water though and see what the rest of the world have been up to and I am sure I will be the one they all want to beat.

"However, the Paralympics are far more important and I wouldn't be surprised if someone came through and I didn't end up with the gold medals.

"But as I say I feel like I am on top of things at the moment and I feel like I am on the right track for London."

Kindred took a break from his training schedule to offer an inspirational talk to over 500 pupils from 41 primary schools, who were celebrating Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week at Wakefield's Thornes Park Athletics Stadium.

And with the Olympics looming large on Kindred's horizon, the breaststroke and medley specialist was desperate to ensure the rest of the nation makes the most of the Games' potential.  

"We will never have a better chance to get children into sport than we have now with the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London," said Kindred.

"It is great to see so many children out and enjoying lots of different sports and to know that there are thousands of other children across the country doing the same thing is brilliant.

"How you experience sport at school makes a massive difference and I think the children are very fortunate to have this put on for them and, who knows, we may even have seen some future Olympic athletes."

Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week took place from 28 June – 2 July. Find out more and help a local school win sports equipment by pledging your support now at www.lloydstsb.com/london2012