September 8th 2024.
After an incredible journey filled with triumphs and challenges, David Weir has decided to hang up his racing shoes and retire from the world of competitive athletics. The six-time Paralympic gold medallist made the announcement after finishing fifth in the marathon at the Paris Games.
Weir's career with ParalympicsGB began in 1996 at the young age of 17, when he competed in the Atlanta Games. Over the years, he has amassed an impressive collection of ten medals, including four golds at the prestigious London 2012 Games. His dedication and hard work have solidified his name in the history books of Paralympic sports.
At the age of 45, Weir has decided to step back from competing for Britain. However, he still has a burning passion for racing and plans to participate in major international marathons such as London and Berlin. "I'm quite emotional as I know it's my last race for GB," he shared with BBC Sport after crossing the finish line in a time of one hour, 33 minutes, and 27 seconds. "But I'll still do the major marathons as I really enjoy them. In fact, I have Berlin in just two weeks!"
Weir had made up his mind about retiring even before arriving in Paris for his final race. "I've been thinking about it all week," he admitted. "It's the right decision for me, and I want to do it. I feel at peace with my choice." Despite not achieving a medal in the marathon, Weir had previously finished eighth in the 5,000m and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 1,500m final.
In the marathon, Weir finished five minutes behind the gold medallist, Marcel Hug of Switzerland. Hua Jin of China took the silver, while Japan's Tomoki Suzuki claimed the bronze. "My body just couldn't cope with it today, to be honest," Weir shared. "But I was still highly competitive, even at my age. Daniel [Romanchuk, who finished fourth] is 20 years younger than me - I could be his dad - so I think I'm doing alright. I gave it my all today, and that's all I can give."
Weir looks back on his career with ParalympicsGB with immense pride. "I don't really pat myself on the back," he said humbly. "But I should. I should be proud of what I've accomplished." He added, "I've had a great career, and I'm trying not to get too emotional, but I think it's time for me to move on. It's been an incredible journey, and I'm grateful for every moment."
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