By Megan Armitage in Paris

Just days out from his seventh Paralympic appearance, David Weir was still fighting the demons in his head.

The 45-year-old admitted that after his performance at the London Marathon in 2023, he was close to calling it quits on his athletics career but a new chair from an unknown benefactor was the key to his return.

Add that to missing out on reaching the final of the T54 5000m at Tokyo and Weir revealed that the doubts started to creep back in ahead of his Paris 2024 debut on the track.

But after a composed performance saw the Brit cruise through his heat and qualify third fastest for the 5000m final, he knew that it was all down to what has been a stellar year back at the top.

"There were times last year when I was ready to call it a day but once someone wanted to invest in me and get me the new chair, I had a rebound," he said.

"I did have a few demons in my head the last couple of days because of what happened in Tokyo but I just said to focus on my ability and the times I've done this year and have confidence in myself.

"It's not easy getting back up to number two in the world in the 5000m.

"I'm in shape but I've had a long season already and quite tired. But I'm happy, I just needed to get that race out of the way and I can now focus on the rest of the Games."

The Brit started off strong in a pack that refused to be separated through the first 3000m and kept up the pace to hold off a final charge from Thailand's Saichon Konjen and cross the line for first.

He will now head into the final against close friend and seemingly untouchable Marcel Hug of Switzerland, who qualified in top spot.

But with his self-described best event still to come in the marathon, Weir is ready to see how close he can get to Hug this time round.

"I don't set goals for medals anymore because I tried that in Tokyo and it just put too much pressure on me," he said.

"I will just do my best and hopefully it will be a medal and if it doesn't I'll move onto the next race.

"Probably the marathon is my best chance. I'm number three in the world in the marathon and I was in the top three for the last two on the circuit so I'd say that was my strongest one.

"It's not a great course so it might suit me and Marcel quite well but we'll see."

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