Despite being one of Britain’s greatest athletes, the 34-year-old lives in a modest semi-detached council house on the Roundshaw Estate in Wallington, south London, the area he grew up in.

But its layout means David, who was born with a severed spinal cord and cannot use his legs, risks injury every day because he must claw his way upstairs to go to the loo.

‘He’s a national hero but he can’t find a decent house and the council aren’t helping,’
his mother Jacqueline told The Sun.

‘He’s simply too good to have a nice house. He’s not a jailbird or a junkie so as far as they’re concerned he just has to make do with what he’s got.’

David, nicknamed the Weirwolf, won four golds at London 2012  in the T54 category 800m, 1500m, 5000m and marathon to add to his two golds at Beijing in 2008.

In addition, he has won six golds at the Athletics World Championships and six London Marathons.

Weir was bestowed a CBE in the New Year’s Honours this year. He was also  made a Freeman of the City of London after the Paralympics, and the local leisure centre is named after him.

As with all Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists, the nearest postbox to his home was painted gold in his honour.

He lives in the small house with his fiancee Emily Thorne, and their two children Mason, two, and baby Tillie. His other daughter Ronie, 10, also stays regularly and the family have spoken to their housing association about getting a larger home.

But Ms Thorne claims that Roundshaw Homes are refusing to help in case they look like they are giving a Paralympian special treatment.

‘We are not asking for a mansion, we just want somewhere with three bedrooms and a downstairs toilet,’ she said.

‘With David getting a bit older he could do without the trips up the stairs on his arms, risking a recurring shoulder injury.’

Roundshaw Homes said it would not comment on individual cases but appeared to be close to changing its mind about Mr Weir’s home.

‘We continue to actively liaise with Mr Weir to address his housing needs in terms of the size of his home and appropriate adaptations,’ a spokesman said.

Neighbours rallied round the star today.

Weir’s neighbour Stella Davies, 34, said: ‘It looks to me like they have now done a big U-turn.

‘It was a disgrace that they didn’t do it in the first place. The whole country supported him in the Olympics yet they won’t give him a decent house. It is disgusting.’

Another neighbour Daniel Smith, 56, said: ‘Everyone knows him around here. He is a bloody hero and this is what they do to him. They do the same thing to soldiers.

‘They give all this help to people who don’t deserve it and when it comes to a guy like him, they won’t help. What is wrong with this country?’

BBC

Weir, who won four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, is looking forward to returning to the Park to relive the magic of the Games, which enraptured the nation last year.

Ahead of the event on Saturday September 7, Weir said:

“National Paralympic Day will provide an opportunity for everyone to relive the excitement that surrounded the Paralympic Games last year and I think it’s going to be a great day.

He added: “I’m absolutely delighted that I will be back in the Olympic Park as part of the celebrations for National Paralympic Day. I got to race in the Park almost every day of London 2012 so it will be amazing to be back there this weekend, once again celebrating with the British public.”

Sophie Christiansen will also be amongst the dozens of athletes to attend National Paralympic Day, fresh from her success at the 2013 European Championships where she added another three gold medals to her collection.

Christiansen said: “I think it’s really exciting that we have the opportunity to celebrate National Paralympic Day for the first time. At London 2012, the country showed its love for Paralympic sport and the sale of tickets for National Paralympic Day has proved the continued interest and support.

“The great thing is that you don’t need a ticket to get involved on National Paralympic Day. I’m looking forward to meeting visitors to the park on September 7 and soaking up what I’m sure will be an incredible atmosphere. With so much happening on the Park that day, there really should be something for everyone to enjoy.”

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has also added her support for National Paralympic Day this week. The multi-gold medal winning Paralympian and BPA patron said: “London 2012 provided our country with a month of unbelievable sporting success and the introduction of National Paralympic Day will only help to build on the great achievements of last summer.

All the activity going on to celebrate the day supports the message that Paralympic sports are available for all and that it is taking place across the country.”

The Paralympic medallists will be joined on the day by several more athletes who have also already signed up to attend the London event on September 7. They include:

• · Paralympic bronze medallist in Judo, Ben Quilter
• · Paralympic sprinter Graeme Ballard
• · Paralympic sprinter, Sam Ruddock

Paralympic athletes will participate in a range of activities both inside the Copper Box and on the Park, including appearances on the main Liberty stage and autograph signings.

National Paralympic day featuring the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival will be the grand finale to a thrilling summer of celebrations marking the one year anniversary of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

All the 12,000 tickets which went on sale for the three sessions of elite sport taking place in the Copper Box arena have now sold out, but no tickets are required for visitors who are looking to access the Olympic Park to experience the atmosphere, try different sports and enjoy the Liberty Festival.

Artists and performers will also appear as part of the Mayor’s Liberty Festival, the popular annual showcase of Deaf and disabled artists. Amongst the highlights will be “The Limbless Knight”, an inspiring aerial and sway performance from award-winning theatre company Graeae, whose artistic director Jenny Sealey co-directed last year’s Paralympic Opening Ceremony. There will also be a special appearance from Andrea Begley, who won the audience vote on BBC TV series “The Voice”.

www.paralympics.org.uk

The 20-year-old ran 10.57 seconds to beat his previous mark of 10.77.

In the same race, American Richard Browne improved his T44 100m world record to 10.75, while Jonnie Peacock set a new British mark of 10.84.

British wheelchair racers David Weir and Hannah Cockroft both also won.

Four-time London gold medallist Weir was a class above the rest of the field in the rarely-run T54 one mile event, posting a new world record time of 3mins 16.40secs.

Cockroft was dominant in her T33/34 100m race, setting a new stadium record of 17.80secs in blustery conditions.

Elsewhere, there were victories for Paralympic champions Richard Whitehead (T42 200m) and Aled Davies (F42 shot), while Dan Greaves took victory in the F44 discus and both Graeme Ballard (T36) and Libby Clegg (T12) won over 100m.

With Oliveira, Browne and Peacock all putting in strong performances at this week’s IPC World Championships  in Lyon, the combined T43/44 race was the most eagerly anticipated event on Sunday – and it did not disappoint the 60,000-strong crowd.

Speaking through an interpreter, Oliveira said he was happy with his time but played down the idea he would try to compete at both the Rio Olympics and the Paralympics in 2016.

“I want to compete in the Brazilian national championships against able-bodied competitors, but I’m not thinking about international competition,” insisted Oliveira.

Sunday’s record was his second of the week after he broke the 200m mark of Oscar Pistorius in Lyon.

Browne, whose time of 10.75 seconds beat the 10.83 record for single amputees he set in winning his semi-final in Lyon, told BBC Sport he believes that he and his rivals can go even faster and eventually challenge able-bodied times.

“You are going to see sub-10.5 times, maybe even 10.2,” said the American. “If anyone can do it, it is us.”

He also praised Pistorius for breaking down “so many barriers for us”, adding: “We owe him a lot of gratitude because he showed the world it isn’t crippled people trying to run, it is the best athletes in the world.”

Browne also said he wanted to emulate Pistorius by running in able-bodied competitions.

Pistorius was only cleared to run in able-bodied competition in 2008 after initially being banned by the IAAF, the body that governs world athletics.

The South African successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it is likely that any other amputee sprinter who wants to compete against able-bodied runners would have to go down the same route.

“There will be more than one amputee in the Olympics by 2016,” said Browne. “I think the IAAF have to be ready for it and get their rules ready.”

Peacock told BBC Sport he was disappointed not to have made more of the favourable conditions in front of his home crowd.

“The conditions were perfect for me to run a great time and I didn’t make use of them and execute the race I should have done,” said the 20-year-old.

“Alan and Richard did and they had great times because of it. I just panicked at the start and lost it. I don’t think my drive phase was very good either.

“I am capable of those times and I really want more races against Richard. He got me today, I got him in Lyon.”

Elsewhere, Whitehead passed Australian Scott Reardon with a trademark late surge to win the T42 200m, while Davies set a new stadium record in the F42 shot put, although his mark of 14.31m was just short of his world record of 14.71.

Greaves gained some revenge on American rival Jeremy Campbell, who took his world title in Lyon, with his winning throw of 57.42m well clear of the Paralympic champion’s 49.40m.

BBC

Those selected from last summer’s Paralympic Games include gold medallists Mickey Bushell (coach: Fred Periac), Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks), Aled Davies (Anthony Hughes), Jonnie Peacock (Steve Fudge), Josie Pearson (Anthony Hughes) and Richard Whitehead (Keith Antoine).

T34 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m world record holder Cockroft heads to Lyon as a double Paralympic and World champion over 100m and 200m, and the 20 year old from Halifax has her sights firmly set on retaining those titles.

Also doubling up in the sprints is reigning T12 100m world champion Libby Clegg (Keith Antoine), who is looking to defend her crown, as well as bettering the 200m bronze she picked up two years ago in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Stef Reid (Rana Reider), a silver medallist in the F44 Long Jump last summer, will be looking to improve on her bronze medal placing two years ago, as the 28 year old aims to continue her impressive major championship record.

Dan Greaves (Jim Edwards), a medallist at the last four Paralympic Games, heads to France as the defending champion in the F44 Discus, while Nathan Stephens (Hughes) will be looking to repeat his 2011 gold-medal winning feat in the F57 Javelin, as the 25 year old also lines up in the Discus.

The London 2012 bronze medal-winning T35-T38 4x100m team of Olivia Breen (Leroy Elliott), Beth Woodward (Jared Deacon), Jenny McLoughlin (Darrell Maynard) and Katrina Hart (Rob Ellchuk) will reunite in Lyon for the relay, as well as competing over their individual events.

Sophie Kamlish (Ellchuk), who was the youngest member of the GB & NI athletics team at London 2012 at the age of 16, will line up in the T44 100m and 200m, while Sophia Warner (Stephen King), a double medallist in 2011, will compete in the T35 100m and 200m.

In combining youth and experience British Athletics Paralympic Head Coach Paula Dunn will give senior GB & NI debuts to nine athletes, including Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Fuzz Ahmed), Sophie Hahn (Joseph McDonnell) (T38 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay), Scott Jones (Carolyn Franks) (F34 shot put), Andy Kaar (David Sunderland) (T2-0 1500m), Erin McBride (Robert Roberts) (T12 400m), Holly Neill (Andrew Roda) (F41 discus), Georgina Oliver (Paul Moseley) (T54 100m and 200m), Laura Sugar (Hayley Ginn) (T44 100m and 200m) and Lee Whiteley (Keith Hunter) (T38 100m and 200m).

Dunn said:

“There’s an exciting blend of young talent and experienced athletes in the team and hopefully this is the building block for 2016. London 2012 was a great year for the Paralympic movement with more stars emerging onto the world stage, I’m confident that we will see some more come through in Lyon at the IPC World Athletics Championships.

“There’s an exciting blend of young talent and experienced athletes in the team.”Paula Dunn

“We’ve seen some great performances already this year, with some of the guys posting some quick times and big throws. Our last competition before the Worlds is next week in Birmingham, at the Sainsbury’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final, and it will be a great way for our athletes to take stock of the competition before heading out to Lyon.”

Double Paralympic and World champion Hannah Cockroft said:

“It’s obviously a massive honour to be named on the GB & NI team for Lyon and representing my country in my first major championships since the Games. We had a really strong team spirit last year at the London Games, so I’m looking forward to competing with some of the team from London again and seeing how everyone’s progressed.

“I’m looking forward to competing with some of the team from London again and seeing how everyone’s progressed.”Hannah Cockroft

“My personal target is to stay double World champion after winning the 100m and 200m in 2011 and hopefully post some quick times out there. Thanks to the support from my coaching team and the National Lottery, I have been able to continue on from where I left off last year posting world record times, which will stand me in good stead for the summer ahead.”

Selected athletes

Men

Ola Abidogun – T46 100m and 200m

Graeme Ballard – T36 100m & 200m

Paul Blake – T36 400m, 800m, 1500m

Jonathan Broom-Edwards – F44 High Jump

Mickey Bushell – T53 100m, 200m & 400m

Jamie Carter – T34 200m, 400m & 800m

Aled Davies – F42 Discus and Shot Put

Derek Derenalagi – F57 Discus

Kyron Duke – F41 Javelin & Shot Put

Dan Greaves – F44 Discus

Rhys Jones – T37 100m & 200m

Scott Jones – F34 Shot Put

Andy Kaar – T20 1500m

Dean Miller – T37 1500m

Stephen Miller – F32 Club Throw

Scott Moorhouse – F42 Javelin

Steve Morris – T20 1500m

Stephen Osbourne – T51 100m, 200m

Jonnie Peacock – T44 100m

Sam Ruddock – T35 100m, 200m

Ben Rushgrove – T36 100m & 200m

Nathan Stephens – F57 Discus & Javelin

Kieran Tscherniawsky – F33 Discus & Shot Put

Richard Whitehead – T42 200m

Lee Whiteley – T38 100m & 200m

Rob Womack – F55/56 Shot Put

Women

Hollie Arnold – F46 Javelin

Olivia Breen – T38 100m, 200m & Relay

Libby Clegg – T12 100m & 200m

Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m and 200m

Sophie Hahn – T38 100m, 200m & Relay

Katrina Hart – T37 100m, 200m & Relay

Beverley Jones – F37 Discus, Shot Put

Jade Jones – T54 400m, 1500m, 5000m

Sophie Kamlish – T44 100m & 200m

Erin McBride – T13 400m

Jenny McLoughlin – T37 200m & Relay

Holly Neill – F41 Discus

Melissa Nicholls – T34 100m & 200m

Georgina Oliver – T54 100m & 200m

Josie Pearson – F51/52/53 Club Throw & Discus

Gemma Prescott – F32 Club Throw

Stefanie Reid – F44 Long Jump

Laura Sugar – T44 100m & 200m

Sophia Warner – T35 100m, 200m

Claire Williams – F11/F12 Discus

Shelly Woods – T54 1500m, 5000m & Marathon

Bethany Woodward – T37 200m & 100m & Relay

www.paralympics.org.uk

On the panel: paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft Photo: Guzelian Ltd

Sports clubs continue to play an essential part in the development of Paralympic sport following the unforgettable scenes provided by disability athletes in London last summer. 

“I always said I’d have a good break after the Games,” the wheelchair racer told BBC London 94.9.

“I have a break after every four-year cycle.

“Mentally, more than physically, the build-up for London was seven years from when we won the bid.

“There was a lot of pressure on British athletes. I did feel it but I didn’t show it. It does mentally drain you for a while.

“You need a break from the pressure but then you have the hype after from the success you have had.

“I promised my family I wouldn’t go back to training until after Christmas.

“It will be a tough ask to get into good shape for London but I like a challenge.

“To keep the fire in my belly I have still got challenges I want to fulfil.”

Following a his golden haul in London last year – made up of victories in the 5,000m, 1500m, 800m and the marathon - Weir is now aiming for a record-breaking seventh London Marathon title.

The prospect of creating history in the capital on Sunday, 21 April is currently his driving factor.

“I thought last year’s [London Marathon] was my last one but when you sit and look at the record books, I’m still on equal par with Tanni Grey-Thompson,” the Londoner said.

“I don’t like being on equal par.

Weir on 2012 5000m gold

“Until I get that seventh win it might be my last one but it might be this year, next year or the one after.

“I’ll carry on until I’ve got that record for the Marathon.

“Obviously there are other races I’d like to try like Chicago, and I’d like to go to New York again.

“I’m looking at more road-racing this year than the track.”

The four golds in London took Weir’s tally to six Paralympic golds from his four Games, and 10 medals in total.

Weir says his success in London has made him reconsider whether he will continue competing until the Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“It will be a two-year build up if I decide,” he said.

“If you asked me last April, I didn’t think I’d be signed up for the London Marathon [in 2013], let alone Rio.

“I thought the Paralympics in London would have been my last one but everything went so well.

“Before the Games I was only winning races by millimetres, even in marathons, and it was getting tougher and tougher.

“But when I went into the Games I was in the best shape ever. I won my races by chair’s length or a couple of chairs’ length.

Weir on 2012 1500m gold

“I hadn’t done that for years so I knew there was still more in my body and mentally as well, that I could train at a high level.

“I don’t think I could train for four years like that. I don’t think any athlete could stay at that high for four years.

“I think I could still do the four events [in Rio], but it depends what my body could take.

“I’ll be 34 this year so it’s going to be tough.”

Despite his current focus on the London Marathon and a seventh victory, Weir is unsure of what his exact plans will be for the rest of this year.

“You have to take each year as it comes,” he said.

“I am doing the Marathon but are not sure about other races.

“There are a couple in the pipeline I want to do.

“Next year is the Commonwealth Games, so I’ve got a two-year target at the moment, and we’ll see after that.

“The way I won the races in London, I know I’ve got a lot more in me, which is good to see.”

Weir on 2012 marathon gold

“It’s been easy actually,” he said. You expect it when you do well.

“With Paralympic sports we’ve never had this much publicity after a Games.

“If you look at the crowds, the TV and radio coverage and look at all the papers; you have some knowledge that something is going to go bang afterwards in the public eye.

“You prepare for that and it’s been great.

“I’m not complaining because us Paralympians were moaning we’re not in the public eye enough and now we are. We’ve been asking for it for years.”

Great Britain won a total of 120 medals in London, with 34 of them gold, and Weir believes the success of the Games as a whole, which raised the profile of disability sport, will continue.

“I hope the buzz carries on for a long while and not just the year after.

“I think it will. We have had a number of wheelchair athletes come in my club and start the sport and they are loving it.

“I think the buzz will carry on until Rio. You can see the effect the Paralympics has had on the world.”

BBC