By Daniel Etchells

David Weir has been named in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland marathon team for the International Paralympic Committee World Championships ©Getty ImagesSix-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir has been named in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland marathon team selected for this year's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships.

He will compete at the 26.2-mile London Marathon, which forms part of the World Championships, on April 26, even though the rest of the event will be held in Doha, Qatar in October.

IPC Athletics decided to switch the marathon events to London as it better suits the race schedule of the leading athletes. 

As well as aiming to win his first gold medal since the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Weir will be vying to register a record-breaking seventh triumph in the marathon having finished second behind Switzerland's Marcel Hug last year. 

Weir was forced to pull out of the IPC European Championships in August last year due to tendonitis in his arm, however, he's keen to put that behind him and look ahead to the future with the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games moving ever closer. 

"It was heart-breaking having to pull out of the team for the IPC European Championships last summer, but I'm really looking forward to getting back in a GB vest and test myself amongst the very best in the world," he said.  

"We're going to have the home support behind us and if we can deliver, it will be a real boost for the team ahead of Doha in October.

"Just a second separated the top three last year and I'm sure it's going to go down to the wire again in 2015.

"It would mean a lot to get the record-breaking seventh in London and win gold for the team, but first and foremost I'm focused on ensuring I'm in the best possible condition at the end of April ready to attack the race.

"The race will give me a real gauge of what I need to do between now and Rio to make sure that I can add to the six gold medals I've won at Paralympic Games."

London 2012 silver medallist Shelly Woods has also been named on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team ©Getty ImagesLondon 2012 silver medallist Shelly Woods has also been named on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team ©Getty Images












Shelly Woods, a London 2012 silver medallist and previous winner of the London Marathon, and Jade Jones, a two-time European medallist, will both compete in the T54 race.

Rob Smith, a European silver medallist in the T52 1,500 metre race, has also been selected, along with T46 category debutant Derek Rae and Simon Lawson, who is coached by Ian Thompson. 

"Racing in London ahead of Doha will certainly give the athletes the excitement of a home crowd and hopefully that will spur them on to challenge for the medal places," said Paralympic head coach Paula Dunn.  

"We are very fortunate to have some of the world's best wheelchair racers, and I'm sure they will equip themselves well going into London.

"There is a lot at stake with not only the prestige of the marathon but also giving the team a bit of a head start when it comes to flying out to the Middle East in October."

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