I fear for my mental health when I quit

SIX-TIME Paralympic champion David Weir believes more needs to be done to protect the mental health of retired athletes.

The wheelchair racer, 39, is aiming to win a record ninth London Marathon in April. But the disabled athlete is already worrying about his mental health when he finally quits the sport.

Last year Weir,

CBE, spoke openly about needing counselling due to

“suicidal thoughts”.

The father-offour is now in a much better place mentally but is calling for more help for athletes during their career and after.

Voicing concerns over his impending retirement, he said: “I think a lot of athletes need sports psychologists or counselling, more for day-today life than for competing. Especially athletes who are near retirement or recently retired.

“It is something that I worry about. I am always thinking about what I am going to do after I retire. I feel like they are just forgotten about.

“It is like, ‘Thank you very much, you have done us proud, see you later’. Then they shut the door on you.

“I think that’s how a lot of athletes feel. They dedicate all their life to a sport 24/7.”

Weir, born with a spinal cord transection that left him unable to use his legs, said: “You give the sport your life. You have to follow the rules and do what they say and then you retire and get nothing. I think more needs to be done.”