David Weir to retire after London Marathon in April
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 19/09/16 7:37am
Wheelchair racer David Weir has revealed his retirement plans with two more opportunities left to win a seventh Paralympic title.
The 37-year-old was sixth in the T54 800m - his final individual track race at the Rio Paralympics - having finished fifth in the 400m and fourth in the 1500m, and announced on Thursday that he would retire after next April's London Marathon.
He had been hoping to secure a third straight T54 800 metres title after his wins at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, where he won four gold medals from four events.
But the six-time Paralympic champion could only watch on as Swiss rival Marcel Hug set the pace before storming home in one minute 33.76 seconds.
Weir has another chance on the track in Saturday's T53/54 4x400m relay - if he opts to make himself available and if the team advance in Friday's heats - and in the marathon on Sunday's final day, which will be his final Paralympic performance.
"That's my last (individual) race on the track ever," Weir said.
"That will be it for me. That was my decision before I came out here. I was thinking about it hard with my team around me and I said this is my last track event I can do.
"And I said I want to retire at the London Marathon next year. I'll give it one more winter's training and bow out where it all started."
It was a first Paralympic title for Hug, who finished second to Weir twice and fourth twice behind the Briton at London 2012.
"How do you think I feel? It's just so disappointing," said Weir, who is competing at his fifth Games.
"The sport has evolved over the last four years and I'm just not good enough. That's racing. It's moved on in four years. I felt sharp yesterday, just didn't feel as sharp this morning.
"It's one of those things and it just didn't work."
Weir, from Wallington, Surrey, has no intention of continuing on until next year's World Championships in London.
He said: "No, not for me. Track racing's moved on so much it takes a lot out of your body to do everything.
"I'm four years older and I just want to give the London Marathon one more crack."
Weir became a father for the fourth time as partner Emily gave birth to the couple's third child, Lenny, on Sunday and he was adamant that was not a reason for his performances.
Sunday's marathon finishes at Copacabana beach and will be Weir's last hurrah in Paralympic competition.
"The marathon I seem more comfortable at, but it's a flat course so it's going to suit the fast guys like the Japanese and Marcel," Weir added.
"It will be my last Paralympic race. It's going to be a big one, a hot one."
