Weir happy not to be Britain’s sole medal hope
SIX-TIME Paralympic champion David Weir admitted yesterday his relief at knowing Great Britain no longer has to pin its hopes of glory on him, as he ponders whether or not to compete at his fifth Games in Rio in 2016.
Weir closed the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium with a show-stopping performance in the T54 one-mile race, clocking three minutes 16.40 seconds, though was disappointed not to break the three-minute barrier.
The 34-year-old will not reveal his intentions for Rio until after next year’s Commonwealth Games, but is content Britain has a host of stars able to challenge on the world stage.
“I’m glad the burden is off my back and some of the younger kids are coming through to win medals,” said Weir, one of seven British winners yesterday.
“I wish this was a yearly thing here. I think we’ve got to people’s hearts.”
Sprinter Jonnie Peacock, arguably Britain’s breakthrough star of London 2012, was “annoyed” with his time in the combined T43 and T44 100m, despite running a personal best.
The 20-year-old clocked 10.84, but was well beaten by T44 rival Richard Browne, in a world record 10.75, and Brazil’s Alan Oliveira in 10.57, a world record in the T43 class.
There were victories though, for last year’s champions Richard Whitehead and Hannah Cockcroft in the T42 200m and T33/34 100m.
Aled Davies and Dan Greaves won the F42 shot put and F44 discus events, while Graeme Ballard won the T36 100m and Libby Clegg the T12 100m.