Belief key as Smyth makes light of disability

JASON SMYTH makes history today by becoming the first Paralympian to compete in the European Athletics Championships.

The 23-year-old Derry man had a sensational double at the Paralympic Games in Beijing two years ago when he won both the 100m and 200m titles. Soon after, he and coach Stephen Maguire, revealed their ambition to target a place at the London Olympics in 2012.

Since then he has trained at home and in the US and the hard work has paid off with a personal best of 10.32 over 100m in Antrim in June and a place on the Irish squad for Barcelona.