Smyth king of the track as world record shattered

IRELAND’S Jason Smyth was yesterday crowned the ‘Usain Bolt’ of the Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Smyth matched Bolt’s individual heroics in the Olympics, winning the 100m and 200m finals in world record times.

The visually impaired Derry man completed the double yesterday recording a time of 21.43 — 0.38 quicker than his semi-final win. The run was all the more remarkable as Smyth sustained a slight hamstring injury in Monday’s victory.

The Derry man said: “I am very pleased. After the false start I knew I had a good start but had to do it again. I had to attack the bend to put the guys under pressure; it’s where I would be the strongest. The bend went well and I had a good lead into the straight.

“The whole year has been about this moment and this success. It went all to plan and it’s such a relief. So many people have put in so much effort. It’s great that it has paid off. I am looking forward to going home and putting the legs up for a couple of weeks!”

Smyth admitted that a pre-race deluge had been a cause of concern as he struggled to see the lane markings in wet conditions. “Thankfully the glare on the track wasn’t too bad today after the rain so it wasn’t really a problem,” he said.

Alexey Labzin (Russia) was second (21.87) while Vugar Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan was third in 22 seconds.

Coach Stephen Maguire added: “I am just relieved he made it through in one piece. Four world records in four races, we couldn’t have dreamt of anything like that. That was the goal in October time when we set out our plan for these races. Thankfully the plan has worked; it’s incredible. Ultimately he will be a 200m and 400m guy by the time he gets to London but let’s just savour this first!”

In other track and field action Tralee’s Roy Guerin finished sixth in the 100m (T53 Class) while Orla Barry from Ladysbridge in Cork finished fifth in the discus (F57/58 Class). Barry’s distance of 27.08m was her second longest throw ever in competition but unfortunately she fouled all three of her final throws.

In the 7-a-side football Ireland were defeated 4-2 by Netherlands, in the 5th/6th place play off.

The Irish team will arrive into Dublin airport on Friday.