Smyth completes golden double

Ireland’s Jason Smyth achieved an amazing golden double tonight in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, winning Paralympic gold for the second time this week.

The visually impaired athlete won the 200m (T13) in front of 91,000 spectators, in a new world record time; 21.43sec, remarkably destroying the mark he set in qualifying yesterday by a massive 0.38 of a second.

Speaking after the event Smyth said “Things went very well, 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. This is what the whole year has been about, right for 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 for the people around me that it has paid off. I am looking for forward to going home, to put the legs up for a couple of weeks!”

After his 100m gold on Saturday the Derry athlete produced his fourth world record in four races at these Games winning this second gold.

The 21-year old now holds the Paralympic title, world title, and Paralympic and world records in the 100m and 200m (T13 category for athletes with visual impairment) and now ranks up there as one of Ireland’s greatest athletes, and all in his first ever Paralympic Games.