Weir wins third gold at World Paralympic Championships

IPC Athletics World Championships
Venue: Christchurch, New Zealand Dates: 21-30 January
Coverage: Daily text and video reports on the BBC Sport website; special report on the championships on BBC Radio 5 live at 2200 GMT on Thursday

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Wonderful Weir earns third gold

Wheelchair racer Dave Weir secured his third gold medal of the Paralympic World Championships with success in his 5000m event.

The Briton had won both the 800m and 1500m races earlier in the week and put in a storming last lap for another win.

"I knew they wouldn't be able to match me over the last 400m," he said.

"After the 800m I knew I had the speed so I didn't come into this one with a plan. I just wanted to stay out of trouble and use my pace."

Weir stayed towards the back of the field through the early stages of the race alongside world record holder Marcel Hug of Switzerland but moved into contention with six laps to go when London Marathon champion Josh Cassidy moved to the front.

With 1200m remaining, the double Paralympic champion started to look dangerous and took up his familiar position on the outside at the bell before powering to victory.

Hug finished second with Frenchman Julian Casoli in third.

"It was very technical but I felt comfortable the whole way through," said Weir. "To win three gold medals is a dream and it shows how fit I was through the summer and going into New York Marathon in November.

"When I had some trouble with my shoulder before Christmas my coach Jenny Archer wasn't worried about the distance training because of the work I'd done, it was more about the speed, but I've trained well out here and it's all come together."

Elsewhere, there were bronze medals for sprinter Ben Rushgrove and discus thrower Aled Davies to bring the GB team's overall medal tally for the week up to 30.