(PRWEB) September 12, 2012
Great Britain came off the track with a disappointing two gold medals at the end of the athletics events at the Beijing Olympics, both of those around the neck of David Weir.
The 33-year-old Weir alone beat that tally in London but, while the man dubbed the “Weirwolf”, has been the star of these Games, his glory run has been far from a solo effort.
In all, the Paralympic hosts won 11 golds, seven silvers and 11 bronzes in athletics. In so doing, recognition for the likes of Weir has gone through the roof.
Similarly, Jonnie Peacock and Hannah Cockroft have been adopted into the public conscience with their world-beating performances. And it was impossible not to get caught up in all the stories, such as that of gold medal winner Josie Pearson, whose discus triumph came after a car crash which resulted in the death of her boyfriend and left her with a broken neck and spinal damage.
But Britain’s success in athletics has not come overnight. UK Sport funding via the National Lottery was integral in getting the athletics team its 17 medals at the previous Games in Beijing, and further funding (the Paralympic athletic set-up was given