David Weir

Started: He took up wheelchair racing at age eight. (paralympics.org.uk, 04 Feb 2010) Reason: 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." (nhs.uk, 14 Sep 2012) Ambition: To qualify for finals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (bbc.co.uk, 18 Apr 2024) Awards: He was honoured at the 2018 Spirit of London Awards, in recognition of his achievements at the London Marathon. (weirarcher.co.uk, 15 Oct 2018) The Kingsmeadow Athletics Stadium in London, England, was renamed the Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre in October 2017, in recognition of his and coach Jenny Archer's achievements in the sport. (the3scribblers.wordpress.com, 13 Oct 2017) He was inducted into the Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame in October 2014 and in the same year received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Kingston University London in England. (paralympic.org, 09 Oct 2014; kingston.ac.uk, 14 Nov 2014) He was named Best Male at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee [IPC] Awards Ceremony. (insidethegames.biz, 23 Nov 2013) In 2013 he was inducted into the Great North Run Hall of Fame after winning the event four times. The race is held annually in Newcastle, England. (insidethegames.biz, 14 Apr 2013) In January 2013 he was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [CBE]. (paralympic.org, 28 Feb 2013) He received the Freedom of the London Borough of Sutton in 2009 and won BBC London's Disabled Athlete of the Year award for 2008. (suttonguardian.co.uk, 24 Dec 2009, 31 Dec 2008) Additional Info: PARIS GOALS He is targeting the finals in his events at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, which he says may be his last Paralympic Games. The last time he made the podium at the Games was London 2012, where he won four gold medals. "It's a big year for me. I've got potentially my last Paralympics. At my age, I want to give it my all if it is. Every year I train my hardest because I think it's going to be my last season. If I win any medals it would be a massive achievement. I'd be incredibly proud just to reach the finals in Paris because my career has been so long." (bbc.com, 25 Jul 2024, 18 Apr 2024) LEGACY In April 2013 he and coach Jenny Archer launched the Weir Archer Academy with the aim of unearthing future Paralympic medallists. The academy is based at the Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre in London, England, and its work includes involvement with schools in South London, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire. "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." (weirarcher.co.uk, 13 Mar 2024; bbc.co.uk, 05 Apr 2013) INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT AND RETURN He retired from competition after the 2017 Anniversary Games in London, but announced his intention to return in September 2018 with a view to competing in the marathon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He had previously announced his retirement from the British Para athletics team following the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and claimed at the time that he had been accused of not performing to the best of his ability. "It took me a long time to get over. I was very bitter about what happened in Rio. I said I'd never wear the vest again. I'm going back on my word, but if I can still deliver and win a medal like I think I can, then why not?" (bbc.co.uk, 12 Sep 2018; telegraph.co.uk, 13 Jun 2017, 27 Jan 2017; theguardian.com, 23 Apr 2017) BOOK In 2013 he released a book titled 'Weirwolf: My Story', which documents his life from his school days up to becoming a Paralympic champion. (amazon.com, 01 Jan 2013)