TANNI: NO ONE’S SCARED OF THE WEIRWOLF NOW
DAVID WEIR has lost his invincibility, according to wheelchair legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (inset).
The four-gold star of London 2012 goes into today’s marathon, his final race before retirement, distraught at failing to deliver a single medal in his four track events here.
He has a chance to change that, but Grey-Thompson, inset, admitted: “Sport is a bit cruel When you win it is amazing but when you lose, it is miserable when you come off the track.
“In 2012 Dave didn’t always make great decisions when he was racing but I think the others were a bit afraid of him. However, he has lost that invincibility.” That much has been clear and the man they call the Weirwolf, for whom the marathon is his fifth event in seven days, has cut an increasingly forlorn figure. Weir (right) said: “I came out to Rio with every intention of getting a medal. I felt fit and strong. I don’t know what has gone wrong. I’m gutted I’ve missed my son’s birth for this terrible performance. I gave what I could. I’m deeply sorry I’ve let the country and my teammates down.”
Weir’s week hit a low point when the British team he anchored failed to even make the 4x400m relay final.
“A couple of days ago in an interview, David said things weren’t right out here and he alluded to a couple of things,” said Grey-Thompson. “There are things going on behind the scenes he isn’t happy with.
“This relay was a potential medal for GB and there has been a lot of investment in this event. The sport needs to listen to Dave. They need to find out what the problem is and fix it.”