David Weir (paralympic athlete)
Encyclopedia
David Weir MBE
(born 5 June 1979) is an elite British
Paralympic wheelchair athlete
from London
, England
. On 13 April 2008, Weir won his third London Marathon
in a row, and his fourth in total. He came third in the 2010 London marathon, after getting a flat tyre on his new chair. He won the 2011 London Marathon, his fifth title in a London Marathon, in 1:30:05, two seconds ahead of Heinz Frei
. Weir won four medals (two golds, a silver and a bronze) at the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games
, which were his third Games. He also won a silver medal and a bronze at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
in Athens
, as well as three gold medals and a silver at the 2006 Paralympic World Championships in Assen
.
David Weir currently holds the British record at all track distances up to 5,000 m, as well as on the road at 10 km, half marathon, and marathon.
He has been described by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
as "one of the best wheelchair athletes in the world", and by the British Broadcasting Corporation as "Britain's top wheelchair racer".
Weir was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours
. On Friday, 20 November 2009, Weir officially opened the new extension building in Devonshire Primary School, Sutton. In 2007 David joined Lucozade Sport as an Ambassador.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 June 1979) is an elite British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Paralympic wheelchair athlete
Wheelchair racing
Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs in track and road races. Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted . Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their...
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. On 13 April 2008, Weir won his third London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in a row, and his fourth in total. He came third in the 2010 London marathon, after getting a flat tyre on his new chair. He won the 2011 London Marathon, his fifth title in a London Marathon, in 1:30:05, two seconds ahead of Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei is a Swiss wheelchair athlete. Frei has had a long career of racing, winning the London Marathon wheelchair race three times, and earning 5 medals at the 2003 European games at the age of 45...
. Weir won four medals (two golds, a silver and a bronze) at the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
, which were his third Games. He also won a silver medal and a bronze at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, as well as three gold medals and a silver at the 2006 Paralympic World Championships in Assen
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
.
David Weir currently holds the British record at all track distances up to 5,000 m, as well as on the road at 10 km, half marathon, and marathon.
He has been described by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
as "one of the best wheelchair athletes in the world", and by the British Broadcasting Corporation as "Britain's top wheelchair racer".
Weir was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours
New Year Honours 2009
The New Year Honours 2009 principally for the United Kingdom as well as the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 31 December 2008, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2009....
. On Friday, 20 November 2009, Weir officially opened the new extension building in Devonshire Primary School, Sutton. In 2007 David joined Lucozade Sport as an Ambassador.