Smyth smashes world record as he strikes gold again
It comes as plans for a homecoming fit for our Paralympic heroes began to take shape.
The 25-year-old, the fastest Paralympian in the world and Ireland’s third double-gold medallist at the Paralympics, added the 200m crown to his 100m title with another dominant display.
And he went a step further than the self-professed Jamaican “living legend” by smashing the world record for the third time in four races at the Olympic Stadium in London.
The sprinter, who trains in Florida with Tyson Gay, the joint second-fastest man of all time, clocked 21.05 seconds, 0.90secs ahead of second place and 0.38s quicker than his old world best mark.
Victory ensured the Derry athlete, who is visually impaired because of Stargardt disease, has successfully defended both T13 titles he won four years ago in Beijing.
It was a sensational day for the Irish, with Mark Rohan claiming his second Paralympic gold medal in three days in the H1 cycling road race at Brands Hatch.
Catherine O’Neill, from New Ross in Wexford, had already claimed silver in the women’s F51/52/53 discus throw back in Olympic Park by the time Rohan added the H1 road race title to the time trial gold earned last Wednesday.
Half-a-dozen athletes will wrap up Ireland’s involvement today and it would hardly register on the Richter scale were one or two of them to write a glorious postscript for a team that has already surpassed all expectations.
The team will arrive at Dublin Airport just before 7pm on Monday evening where they will be met by sports Minister of State Michael Ring.
The Paralympic Council is organising a private media reception where speeches will be made and the press will have an opportunity to meet the athletes.
The 49 competitors, who took part in 10 sports in London, will meet supporters at arrivals shortly after 8pm before heading home with families and friends.
Paralympians Ireland spokesperson John Fulham said the athletes, away for a month, really wanted to be with their families and have their own homecoming celebrations.
Plans are being made for a Government reception for the team and their families on Friday.
Leo Varadkar, the sports minister, will host next Friday’s reception to be attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Farmleigh House.
They will also be honoured on Monday, Oct 22, at a reception hosted by President Michael D Higgins in Áras on Uachtarain.
Mr Fulham said the team members were in great form but were becoming battle weary and looking forward to home.
“The support the team received during the games has been absolutely phenomenal and the coverage has been way beyond my expectations,” he said.
The team, along with 47 staff and coaches, arrived in London last month after a week-long training camp in Portugal.
Mr Fulham, from Limerick, is a former European 100m/200m sprint champion and paralympic finalist.
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