Wheelchair racer David Weir raised both hands in celebration as he crossed the finish line to win the T54 5000m title in the cauldron of a packed London 2012 Olympic Stadium on Sunday night.
It was a fitting finale to a session that had already seen ParalympicsGB athletes collect a brace of silver medals from Libby Clegg and Graeme Ballard.
The 32 year old Surrey athlete is competing at his fourth Paralympic Games and won golds over 800m and 1500m last time around in Beijing, but the T54 5000m title had so far eluded him.
“This was the one I wanted to win and it was special doing it in my home town,” said Weir, after getting his London 2012 campaign off to the perfect start. “The crowd gave me such a massive lift. It’s indescribable what it does for you.
“It was a dream come true tonight. It’s taken hard work and dedication to get here,” added Weir. “I was in great form coming into this and everything I have done in the last year has been for this.
“The race went well tactically and I was confident coming into the final bend,” he added.
He also said a big thank you to everyone who plays the National Lottery for the support it gives to the British athletes.
Weir had covered every break during a typically cagey 5000m final. He tailed Switzerland’s Marcel Hug over the last 600m and then punched for home 200m out.
His emotions were clear to see as he crossed the finish line with arms aloft to win in 11:07.65. Australia’s Kurt Fearnley took silver and Julien Casoli bronze.
Weir returns to action on Monday morning in the first heat of the T54 1500m, scheduled to get underway at 10:40.
To read more on this story visit www.paralympics.org.uk/gb
