The biggest names in Paralympic sport will return to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer and six-time champion David Weir cannot wait to revisit the memories of 2012 .
The “Weirwolf” took home four gold medals at the London games, winning the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon, and will soon be lining up in Stratford once more at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.
Taking place on National Paralympic Day, the third day of the competition, on July 26, will incorporate the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Grand Prix Final and is one of two elite sporting events at the park that day.
A six-time winner of the London marathon, 35-year-old Weir admits the former Olympic stadium will always hold a special place in his heart and is looking forward to the occasion.
“It feels like home coming back here,” he said. “To even look at that stadium gives me a few butterflies and the memories start flooding back.
“It’s part of me, being in that stadium, and I’m really looking forward to going round the track and hopefully putting on a good performance.
“When we got the bid it was amazing to have a Paralympics on my doorstep and being a London lad it was even more special for me.
“But to go and race in that stadium and do what I did and come away with four gold medals – I just didn’t expect that.
“I trained as hard as I could but I would have been happy with just one. To come away with four was a massive achievement.”
The day aims to be a celebration of the Paralympic movement and an opportunity for people in the UK to come together to relive the magic of 2012 while looking ahead to Rio 2016.
Visitors to the park can meet some of their Paralympic heroes, try out disability sport for themselves and also enjoy The Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival, which showcases the nation’s finest talent in deaf and disability arts, all for free.
But Weir insists the standard of the competition alone is enough reason to get involved with the event.
“Crowds can expect great racing and great events,” he added. “They’re all going to be thrilling events to see.
“Paralympic sport’s much better in real-life than on the TV.”
London 2012 Paralympic swimming gold-medallist Ollie Hynd will also be among the elite athletes competing next door at the London Aquatics Centre.
Last year, some 30,000 people came to the Park to soak up the atmosphere and make the most of the full range of activities on offer.
Visit britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-anniversary-games for more.
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