‘Proud’ athletics great David Weir calls time on marathon Paralympic career
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David Weir of Britain reacts after finishing the marathon at the Paris Paralympics, his last event at international level.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – An emotional David Weir said on Sept 8 he had “put his heart and soul” into his Paralympic career, but now was the time for the British multiple champion to bring down the curtain on this chapter of his life.
A new chapter, says the man nicknamed “Weirwolf” and termed “simply inspiring” by none other than Usain Bolt, will be a mix of competing in city marathons and a new role as a deejay.
The 45-year-old – a six-gold former Paralympic champion – announced his decision after finishing fifth in the men’s wheelchair T54 marathon won by his great Swiss rival Marcel Hug on the last day of the Games in Paris.
Weir was born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs, but all that did not matter at all as he has come a long way and is proud of the longevity of his Paralympic career.
“It’s my last event for Great Britain,” said the veteran, who has also won the London marathon eight times.
“No more international racing for me, I’ll do the city marathons. I feel proud and I am very emotional.
“To span that career since 1996 and before that... I’ve been at the top of my game for a long time.”
Weir added that although his teacher wife Victoria had tried to persuade him otherwise, his mind had been made.
“I just feel it’s the right thing for me, I’ve put my heart and soul into the sport,” he said, reflecting on his career.
“London in 2012 (winning four golds) was the big one. But before that, Athens. To come back after having two or three years out and getting on that podium for the first time in winning a silver and the bronze.
“That was probably my proudest moment. That gave me the stepping stone to want more and more.
“If I didn’t win there, I probably wouldn’t be here now.”
Next up for him – music and spinning discs.
“That’s what I want to do,” he said. “It’s been my passion since I was a kid. Electronic, house music and stuff like that.
“I’m a big fan of deejaying. As a kid, I taught myself.”
Alongside Hug, Catherine Debrunner made it a Swiss double when she won the women’s wheelchair marathon, also in the T54 category.
The 29-year-old added to the four gold medals she has already won on the track at these Games, ranging from the 400m, to the 5,000m, with a silver medal in the T53 100m thrown in for good measure.
“I’m extremely exhausted but very happy,” said Debrunner.
“Winning this marathon means everything to me because to end this Paralympics with this is really something special.”
Meanwhile, the Netherlands won back-to-back Paralympic women’s wheelchair basketball titles as they beat the United States 63-49 on Sept 8.
The Dutch retained the title they won at Tokyo 2020, and underlined their dominance after also winning the last two world championships.
As the six weeks of Olympic and Paralympic fever in the City of Light came to a close, venues that have already hosted their last events were dismantled before the closing ceremony in the Stade de France.
Meanwhile, China finished top of the Paralympics standings with 220 medals, including 94 golds, after all events were completed on the final day of competition.
China have led the way at every Paralympics since Athens 2004. Britain finished second in Paris with 49 golds, with third-placed US winning 36 titles. AFP, REUTERS
