David Roberts' hopes of adding to his 11 Paralympic gold medals are still alive after he won an appeal to ask British Swimming "to reconsider selection under discretionary criteria".
The 32-year-old had failed to gain nomination to the Great Britain team for the Paralympics in London this summer after illness and injury affected his form.
The Welshman missed the first stage of trials in London and then failed to make the qualifying times in Sheffield in April and when the 16-strong team was announced shortly after, Roberts was notable by his omission.
However, an appeal was immediately launched and it has been announced British Swimming and national performance director John Atkinson are now required to reconsider their decision.
Roberts, who won four golds in Beijing four years ago, said on Thursday night: "Words just cannot describe how I feel right now.
"As a professional athlete I eat, sleep and breathe the Paralympics and it's a fantastic feeling to know that, after months of waiting and hoping, I could still be part of such a strong team in such an amazing event.
"It was my dream to compete in the Paralympics in Britain, in the home nation of my family and friends, but when I heard I didn't make the team my dream was completely shattered.
"Now I feel vindicated in taking the appeal process this far - it's incredible to come away with a decision in my favour after such a difficult last few months."
A statement from British Swimming stated: "British Swimming has received an early indication of the appeal panel's findings in relation to Mr David Roberts but is yet to receive the full, written decision.
"The summary states the panel does not uphold the appeal against objective criteria set out in the selection policy but does ask British Swimming to reconsider selection under discretionary criteria within the policy based around fitness and medical issues.
"Before implementing this process British Swimming will study the appeal panel's full decision when received."
