David Weir's hopes of Commonwealth Games gold were dashed after a puncture with six miles to go, handing victory to his teammate JohnBoy Smith. The 43-year-old Weir, who led by more than 90 seconds, finished seventh after his left tyre burst.
Smith, paralysed after being shot as a teenager, wept at the finish line and insisted Weir deserved the gold. 'The better man didn't win,' said Smith, who called for Weir to receive a knighthood from the Queen.
Weir described the puncture as 'frustrating', noting his training had been the best in years. 'I was debating to bring a spare, I had never done that in a race in my life. I thought by taking one I might jinx myself,' he said.
Smith, who trained under Weir's coach Jenny Archer, joked about the difficulty of the course, saying he might 'take them to court and sue them'. His win completes a remarkable journey from being shot at age 16 to Commonwealth gold.
