Commonwealth Games: Johnboy Smith capitalises on David Weir's misfortune to claim gold in the men's T53/54 wheelchair marathon at Birmingham 2022

Commonwealth Games: Johnboy Smith capitalises on David Weir's misfortune to claim gold in the men's T53/54 wheelchair marathon at Birmingham 2022
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Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 30/07/2022

- 21:28

Updated: 30/07/2022

- 21:31

Six-time Paralympic champion Sir David Weir suffered heartbreak with 10 kilometres left of the race

Johnboy Smith added to England's medal haul at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games as he surged past David Weir to claim gold.

Six-time Paralympic champion Weir suffered a puncture with around 10 kilometres to go, while in the lead of the race.


Smith took advantage of Weir's misfortune to win in one hour, 41 minutes and 15 seconds, ahead of Scotland’s Sean Frame and England team-mate Simon Lawson.

But the 32-year-old – who won T54 marathon silver at the Gold Coast in 2018 – paid tribute to Weir.

Johnboy Smith took advantage of David Weir's puncture to claim the gold medal.
Johnboy Smith took advantage of David Weir's puncture to claim the gold medal.
Isaac Parkin

He said: “I didn’t know he had a problem. I saw him from about 50 yards. I shouted out, ‘what happened?’. I cursed out loud a bit then so if it’s on camera I apologise to everyone. I didn’t want to win by default, but I’ve won gold and I deserve gold.

“If he hadn’t have got that flat I don’t know what would have happened. But I could have closed the gap. It would have been a sprint finish. I won by good circumstances.

“Do not write off David Weir. He is not an old man, he is a supreme athlete.

“If Her Majesty the Queen is watching or listening, give him a knighthood. He deserves to be Sir David Weir.”

Adam Peaty cruised through the heats.
Adam Peaty cruised through the heats.
David Davies

Scotland's Duncan Scott claimed revenge on England's Tom Dean by beating him to victory in the men’s 200 metres freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games, as Adam Peaty kept on course for a third consecutive gold in the 100m breaststroke.

Scott, swimming for Scotland at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, had missed out to Dean in the Olympic final in Tokyo last year but triumphed on Saturday night in a time of one minute 45.02 seconds, with Dean taking silver for England in 1:45.41.

Dean led at halfway but Alloa swimmer Scott, who won four medals in total in Japan last summer, came roaring back to secure victory.

Scott also claimed a bronze in the 400m individual medley.

Scotland's Jack Carlin won silver in the men's keirin.
Scotland's Jack Carlin won silver in the men's keirin.
John Walton

Three-time Olympic champion Peaty, 27, later booked his place in Sunday night’s 100m breaststroke final, winning his semi-final in a time of 59.02 seconds.

Peaty’s appearance in Birmingham marked his return to action after he missed last month’s World Championship with a fractured bone in his foot suffered in a freak training accident in May.

In the track cycling, Jack Carlin won men’s keirin silver for Scotland but only after seeing his former housemate Joe Truman knocked unconscious in a frightening high-speed crash.

England’s Truman had nowhere to go when Australian Matthew Glaetzer touched wheels with Carlin in the second round of the event, with Glaetzer falling in front of Truman who went straight over the top and hit his head.

The 24-year-old initially lay motionless on the infield of the velodrome as medical staff rushed to his aid, and was then helped away in a wheelchair receiving oxygen. He was then transferred to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone.

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