Hopes for gold pinned on Eglinton athlete
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Limavady Grammar School pupil Jason Smyth pictured with school principal Dr Sam McGuinness and the magnificent gold medal he won at the World Indoor Paralympics in 2006.
A 21-year-old visually impaired sprinter from Eglinton will make his Paralympic debut in Beijing this Saturday, September 13.
Jason Smyth, a former Limavady Grammar School pupil has made 'swift' progress since taking up the sport five years ago.
He is the current world champion and world record holder in the T13 100 and 200m events and will be aiming for a sprint double to emulate Jamaica's Usain Bolt.
The avid Liverpool FC fan started his season with a new world record of 10.85 seconds in May when he won gold at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
He is also a regular competitor in sighted competition and is ranked second in Ireland over 100m and third over 200m.
It is hoped that Jason can bring a Paralympic gold back to Ireland for the first time since Sydney, eight years ago.
His coach at City of Derry Athletics Club, Stephen Maguire, said: "His form at the minute is superb and I would like to think we are on target."
The Eglinton athlete has a fine record in sprinting. Though he never competed at under-age level in national competition he was never beaten over either 100m or 200m at schools level.
Now his coach has mapped out his future at 200m and 400m pointing out that he may not have the physique for the 100m. Stephen said: "He is tall enough (5'11") but those guys are built like tanks. Jason is leaner - more like Pietra Mennea - and he has both the speed and strength to mix the 200m and 400m. I would see him competing in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics in London. Just think of the 4x400m squad we'll have then!"
Jason's mum and dad, Diane and Lloyd, as well as his brother and a good friend all flew out to Beijing on Monday to join him.
His sister Lisa told the Northern Constitution: "We're all very excited, my mum and dad and brother flew out to join him and they'll be there to see all his races. He races on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and everyone's quite nervous and excited for him.
“Jason's a full time athlete now and takes his athletics very seriously. He has been visually impaired since he was a young child but it has never stopped him or put him off trying anything."
Club Secretary at City of Derry Athletics, Gerry Lynch told us: "We're absolutely delighted and thrilled for Jason. He's such a talented athlete and we're so proud to have him there as a member of City of Derry.
“We hope to see him do very well in Beijing and certainly feel he has a very promising athletic future ahead."
At Limavady Grammar School, where two of Jason's sisters are still pupils, the
Headmaster Dr Sam McGuinness: "We're absolutely delighted. The theme this week for our assembly has been on motivation and I've spoken on how Jason has risen above his difficulties to make great accomplishments.
“We will all be avidly following his races and we are confident he will do well. I told the Assembly this morning that I had heard the commentators speaking of the English sprinter and the great South African sprinter they call the 'Bladerunner' and I told the pupils: 'They'll be eating Jason's dust!'
“We are all very eager to see him do well and I'm absolutely confident he will do his school and his hometown proud, he is a very fine young man."
