David Weir breaks wheelchair three-minute mile record

Paralympian David Weir made world history by becoming the first wheelchair racer to complete a mile in under three minutes on Sunday.

Posting a time of two minutes and 57 seconds, Weir shaved six seconds off his previous best performance at the Westminster Mile.

Retired athlete Sir Roger Bannister, who ran the first sub-four-minute mile in 1954, was quick to congratulate Weir for his "huge achievement".

Roger Bannister, wearing "139", wins the 1954 1500-meters race at the European Athletics Championships Credit: PA

Six-time gold medallist Weir said after the race: "I've always said I could do it.

"I wanted to prove a point that I was still up there with the best in the world".

Sunday's victory was Weir's fourth consecutive Westminster Mile title, beating South African rival Ernst van Dyk, and comes after six victories at the London Marathon.

"I knew it was possible and training has gone really well. I knew I had to get off to a quick start and that Ernst would chase hard. I knew from last year that my start let me down", he added.