David Weir, the winner of four Gold’s at the London 2012 Paralympic Games added yet another to his trophy cabinet tonight, securing his spot as one of the UK’s greatest athletes.
With Kurt Fearnley, 33 (AUS) getting the Silver, that left Bronze to be scooped up by Alex Dupont, 28 (CAN).
- 3:21.67 David Weir, 35, (ENG)
- 3:23.08 Kurt Fearnley, 33 (AUS)
- 3:23.62 Alex Dupont, 28 (CAN)
- 3:24.37 Richard Colman, 29, (AUS)
- 3:25.04 William Smith, 18 (ENG)
- 3:27.34 Josh Cassidy, 29 (CAN)
- 3:32.11 Richard Nicholson, 44 (AUS)
- 3:33.40 Felix, Acheampong, 39 (GHA)
- 3:42.97 Sebastien Ravet, 27 (MRI)
- 3:49.79 Samuel Kuria Ngige, 38 (KEN)
David WEIR (ENG)
On winning the gold medal:
“It is the best feeling ever. That was what made me not retire after the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The feeling of getting another medal; if I didn’t do it, it would haunt me for the rest of my life. It is a fantastic feeling to make your country proud.”
Kurt FEARNLEY (AUS) – silver
On winning silver:
“You go as good as you can on the day, but you don’t go into the race thinking you are going to shoot for second. You spend the days and minutes leading up to the race convincing yourself you’re worthy, but in the last few minutes it’s all in your head.”
On the move from track to marathons:
“It’s emotional. It’s one of the last few times you can get this feeling. The effort you put into training for the track makes training for the marathon too difficult.”
On gold medallist David Weir (ENG):
“You spend six months leading up to this thinking I’ll be the reason he won’t win gold and now that starts all over again.”
Alex Dupont (CAN) – bronze
On winning bronze:
“This is my first big championship medal. I’ve been working really hard for that. I’m very, very happy.”
On the wet conditions:
“The wet track changes the game completely. For us it can mean going from being the very best athlete, to the very worst. I usually do OK in the rain, so I think it worked in my favour.”
On para events being integrated in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games competition schedule:
“It’s amazing. We are seeing a part of the real elite, as we always should. It is an amazing opportunity for us to show what we can do.”
On the close finish to the race:
“Often the fastest guy will win, unless you’re really ballsy. I don’t mind crashing, so I don’t know if it comes down to being ballsy or being stupid. But I went for it, and it worked.”
About the athletes…
David Weir, 35, (ENG)
Classification
T54
Origin of Impairment
Congenital – Genetic
Impairment Details
He was born with a spinal cord transection that prevents him from using his legs. “My spinal cord was severed. I’ve got some feeling in my lower half, but cannot lock my legs or stand up at all. I needed five operations just to straighten my feet.” (nhs.uk, 14 Sep 2012)
Start of sporting career
He took up wheelchair racing at age eight.
Reason for taking up this sport
His first experience of para-athletics was in the London Mini Marathon. “I didn’t have a racing wheelchair so I raced in a standard day chair. I think I impressed everyone, including myself, with how well I did. I’d found my sport and there was no looking back.”
Ambitions
To win a record number of London Marathon titles and represent England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Training
He trains with elite cyclists to build speed and endurance, which he claims has increased his performance levels by 30%.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning the marathon at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
Hero
Swiss Paralympian Heinz Frei.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“I like to get beaten sometimes as it gives you the drive to train harder.”
Awards
He was named Best Male at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee [IPC] Awards Ceremony.
He was Able Magazine’s Sportsperson of the Year, 2012
General
UK ATHLETICS CONTRACT
In May 2013 he refused to sign a contract with UK Athletics, accusing the organisation of lacking respect towards his coach Jenny Archer. This followed the decision to appoint the Australian coach Jenni Banks as head of Britain’s wheelchair programme. “They brought a wheelchair racing coach from Australia who’s not been involved in wheelchair racing for a number of years. I’ve got nothing against her because she might be a fantastic coach and she might do well. But there are fantastic coaches in Great Britain who are good enough, and I just felt that we were forgotten about.”
LEGACY
In April 2013 he launched the Weir Archer Academy, along with his coach Jenny Archer, with the aim of unearthing future Paralympic medallists. The academy is based at the Kingsmeadow Athletics Stadium in Surrey, England, and will focus on helping athletes from south London. “I want this to be my legacy so that London [2012] is not just a one-off. There are literally thousands of potential athletes out there who are just waiting to be discovered and I want to help with that.”
NEVER GIVE UP
At the 2012 Paralympic Games in London during the T54 marathon race – his fourth and final race of the Games – he almost pulled out just before the halfway point because of exhaustion. He managed to continue and finished in first place to win his fourth gold medal in London.
William Smith, 18 (ENG)
Classification
T54
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Impairment Details
He was born with spina bifida.
Start of sporting career
He has been racing since 2007.
Training
Fellow competitor David Weir has been his training partner since 2009.
‘Weirwolf’, By David Weir,
Biteback Publishing,
ISBN: 9781849545488
By any measure, David Weir is a superb athlete. His four gold medals at London 2012 have rightfully earned him a place in British sporting history. It’s a good time then to examine how he got there, both from the perspective of an athlete and from that of a disabled person growing up on a London council estate. This is no sob-story but one where Weir’s courage and determination literally win through. He’s had to learn to fight like a lion, even at times, in spite of the advice and instruction from the top figures in UK Athletics. Weir’s story challenges us to be the best we can be.
Amazon link for the lazy
