11 times Paralympic Champion David Roberts, who has been sponsored by Penn Pharma since late 2008 and was the first company to offer sponsorship, has broken a new world record ahead of the World Championships this summer.

Roberts broke the 400m freestyle short course record this weekend at the Swim Wales Disability Short Course Championships in Llandudno, Conwy. The World Record has stood since the year 2000, previously held by New Zealander Dean Booth.

Roberts clocked 4:51.80 to break the previous record by three whole seconds (4:54) and set a new Personal Best by five seconds.

Roberts, who currently holds the same number of Paralympic gold medals as fellow Welsh athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, said: "I was hoping to do a solid 400m, was aiming for under five minutes. I just felt really comfortable and it gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the World Championships, only a month away.

"I knew the pace was good but had no idea it was even close to the World Record. I looked straight up at the board and realised it was a World Record, which was quite a surprise. It is my first Personal Best since Beijing and shows that I am finally back on track, I have had my fair share of bad luck, with a few dramas, illnesses and injury over the past 12 months.

"It is the World Record I have been chasing for ages, now I hold the WR for 100m, 200m and 400m in the short course. My coach is delighted as it is the first World Record for him as a coach and he was there to see it on Saturday."

Roberts also holds four World Records in the long course, over 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m. The World Championships take place in Eindhoven from 15-21st August. The event is just two years away from the London 2012 Paralympic Games where Roberts will be competing to surpass the Tanni Grey-Thompson as the best ever Paralympian – with the highest number of gold medals in Britain.