He told The Daily Telegraph, "For me personally, Lottery funding through UK Sport for 10 years has been life-changing and has helped me become the best wheelchair racer in the world.

Before the race Weir's personal best fell outside the top twelve competitors at that year's Marathon, and he was not considered a serious challenger.

[9] Weir's training partner Tushar Patel, both members of Kingsmeadow-based Velocity Wheelchair Racing Club,[9] finished a minute and half behind in second place.

[25] Despite getting punctures to his front and left wheels Weir still managed to finish in third place in the 2010 London Marathon in a time of 1:37:01.

"[4] Weir competed in the 2013 London Marathon, finishing in 5th place in 1:31:31, 2 seconds behind race winner Kurt Fearnley.

Weir has won eight titles at the Great North Run, a half marathon distance event in England.

[32][33] In 2007 Weir won the Oensingen marathon in Switzerland in a time of 1:28.19, finishing one second in front of Swiss racer Marcel Hug.

[34][35] Weir won the New York marathon in 2010 in a time of 1:37.29, beating Japanese rival Masazumi Soejima by 1.48 seconds.

Weir became the first Briton to win a track & field medal at the Games with his third place in the 200m final, in a time of 25.55 seconds.

Weir failed to reach the 400m final but went on to collect silver in the 100m behind Finland's Leo-Pekka Tähti, in a time of 14.31 seconds.

"[51] Weir won gold in the 800 metres T54 in a time of 1:36.61 with Kurt Fearnley winning the silver and Prawat Wahoram the bronze.

The race was set to be re-run when Australian competitor Kurt Fearnley asked for the protest to be withdrawn the next morning.

"[56][57][58] In the 400 metres T54 he took home the silver medal, behind China’s Lixin Zhang and ahead of bronze medalist Saichon Konjen.

[60] Weir, aged 33, opened his Paralympic campaign on 13 August 2012 with a comfortable win in his qualifying heat for the 5,000m final, slowing down in the home straight to record a time of 11:27.87.

Weir talked about his father, now living in Northern Ireland, who rarely gets to see him race but who was present at these Games: "He used to take me training every day when I was younger.

Weir won his heat in a time of 1:37.09, which was more than a second ahead of 800m world record holder Marcel Hug.

Weir carried the Great Britain flag at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics, sharing this honour with cyclist Sarah Storey.

Weir was a late addition to the British team for the postponed 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo on 21 July 2021.

[76] Weir won three gold medals and a silver at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships in Assen, Netherlands.

[78] Weir won three gold medals at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand: in the 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m.

[79] Weir won the 800m title, and his first gold of the championships, in a photo finish with Swiss racer Marcel Hug.

[84] In November 2006, Weir shared the Individual male athlete award with tennis player Peter Norfolk.

British Paralympic Association chairman Mike Brace said after Weir's omission, "For none of our top disabled athletes to be recognised in the shortlist is disappointing.

The duo took part in an Olympic v Paralympic competition filmed for the London Youth Games' website, going head-to-head in archery, basketball, boccia and table tennis.

[90] Weir was nominated for the 2012 Laureus World Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year Award for his athletic achievements in 2011,[91] although he lost out to runner Oscar Pistorius.

[92][93] Weir was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to athletics.

The council actually helped me get started in the sport as the Mayor gave me a grant for about £800 when I was eight years old to buy my first racing wheelchair.

The London Evening Standard reported that "Paralympics superstar David Weir today became the greatest wheelchair racer of all time after winning the marathon – and his fourth gold in a stunning Games.

A performance of iron-clad confidence and control brought him an extraordinary third gold medal of the Games on Thursday night, cementing his position as the world's leading wheelchair athlete and leaving his rivals shattered.

"[101] After winning a gold medal for the T53 100m race in the London 2012 Summer Paralympics, Mickey Bushell said of Weir, "He's been a massive influence – just as a team-mate, he's been there for me.