Jason Smyth Wins World Double

Getty Images

Jason Smyth put in another superb performance to complete the sprint double at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon.

Smyth, who won the T13 200m on Sunday, won the 100m in 10.61 seconds - a new competition record but short of his 10.46 Paralympic world best.

The Londonderry man made a solid start and finished strongly ahead of South Africa's Jonathan Ntutu (10.61).

"Coming to major championships it is all about winning," said Smyth

"The times are irrelevant.

"I am delighted. I have put a lot of hard work to get here.

"If you look back at the race there are always things you can improve but crossing the line first is all important."

Smyth said his big target was Rio 2016 and qualifying for the Olympics as well as the Paralympics.

"I tried to do both in London and was four hundredths away from doing it," added the 26-year-old from Eglinton.

"Being so close, it would be silly not to set that as a goal going forward."

Smyth, the fastest Paralympian of all time, admitted he was still annoyed at not getting an invitation to the Anniversary Games in London this weekend.

"To be back in that stadium, with the support we had in London, it is frustrating to be missing out on that but there is not much I can do.

"When I look at what I have achieved in Paralympic sport - I started in 2005, we are now in 2013 and I have never been beaten.

"I have also made semi-finals of the European Championships and World Championships and only narrowly missed out on the Olympics.

"I feel I have achieved quite a lot and I probably don't get as much recognition as others who haven't quite done the same."

Related articles

• Sophie Hahn breaks T38 100m record to claim Paralympic world title
• Josie Pearson wins second medal at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon
• British Paralympians deserve funding but so do our Deaflympic squad | Sean Ingle
• Cockroft retains T34 200m world title
• Five of the Best Moments of the London Paralympics
• Tyson Gay training partner Jason Smyth expresses shock at sprinter's positive drugs test

Jason Smyth to Remain in Florida

Getty Images

Paralympic star Jason Smyth will continue to be based in Florida as he maintains his aim of competing in the Olympic arena in 2016.

Smyth, 25, narrowly missed out on qualification for this year's Olympics before going on to retain his two Paralympic sprint titles in London.

The Northern Irishman will remain with Lance Brauman's training group in Florida, which includes Tyson Gay.

"It has been sorted out and I'm looking forward to getting back," said Smyth.

There had been some uncertainly over where the visually-impaired Smyth would train over the winter after his long-time coach Stephen Maguire opted to take up a job with Scottish Athletics.

Maguire has been working as part of Brauman's coaching team at the National Training Center in Clermont over the last few years.

Smyth, who was diagnosed with Stargardt's condition as an eight-year-old, wanted to remain in the US but it wasn't clear if he would continue to be part of Brauman's group.

Maguire held discussions with Brauman which helped smooth the way for the sprinter to remain at the Florida base.

"I talked with Lance myself last week as well and it was always the ideal scenario for me that I would remain with his group," said Smyth.

"I'm working with great athletes, the weather is good and I've made steady improvements during my time there.

"I felt I worked well there again over the last year even though, for what ever reason, I wasn't quite able to show that in my times.

"I know I'm fortunate to be able to train with such a group because normally sprinters with a best time of 10.20 seconds would not get to work with such elite athletes."

Smyth has been on holiday in Utah over the past two weeks and will return there in December to marry his American girlfriend Elise.

Prior to that, a stint at home in Ireland will be followed by six weeks of training in Florida before his nuptials.

"I'll be on my own for six weeks in Florida before Elise joins me there after the wedding but things will be OK as the other athletes should be able to help out if I need a lift to training or something like that."

Smyth's profile was raised significantly by his two world record-breaking triumphs at the Paralympics and he is continuing to hold out hope that he will be able to attract new sponsors.

"I have spoken to a few agents and other people but no other significant support has come through yet," added Smyth, whose principal source of income is a £32,000 annual grant from the Irish Sports Council.

"For it to be sustainable through to Rio, I will need more backing but hopefully it will come and I will be able to keep on producing at both paralympic and mainstream level."

In the meantime, Smyth will keep on working hard and his new wife will be aiming to find a suitable job when she joins him in Florida.

Related articles

• Eglinton to roll out red carpet for Derry Paralympian Jason Smyth
• Lightning Bolt Smyth Sets New Record
• Smyth breaks record in qualifying
• Smyth eases to 200m heat victory
• Lollipops' Paralympics Champion
• Oscar Pistorius enters the Paralympics
• Meet Blind Paralympic Sprinter Jason Smyth

Lightning Bolt Smyth Sets New Record

Getty Images

Jason Smyth completed a superb sprint double at the Paralympic Games by winning the 200m T13 event in a new world record time.

Starting in lane five, the Eglinton athlete, who has less than 10% vision, led throughout and recorded a time of 21.05 seconds.

Smyth's personal best while competing against able-bodied athletes is 20.94.

"I'll keep pushing myself further - I need to keep moving forward and I know the best is still to come," said Smyth.

The Florida-based runner had won the 100m event for visually-impaired athletes in the T13 category at the Olympic Stadium in London last Saturday.

The 25-year-old retained his 100m title after bursting away from the field to win in a world record time of 10.46 seconds.

Smyth came home ahead of two Russian runners in Friday's 200m race.

Alexey Labzin was second in 21.95 and Artem Loginov third in 22.03.

"Beijing was great, but it's been even better here in London," added the Ireland team member who was winning his country's eighth gold of the Paralympics.

"It is a home Games and it's been a pleasure to be here competing.

"My vision makes it difficult but you just have to learn to get on with it," added Smyth, whose previous Paralympic 200m record was 21.43.

Smyth, visually impaired because of Stargardt's disease, was disappointed not to qualify for the Olympics, with his personal best of 10.22 only .04 seconds outside the 100m 'A' standard.

Smyth's success saw him become the second Irish athlete to secure two gold medals on the track at London 2012.

Belfast competitor Michael McKillop won both the 800m and 1500m classes in his category.

Smyth's profile within Paralympic sport was emphasised as he was presented with his latest gold medal by London 2012 chief Lord Coe.

The sprinter completed his lap of honour holding an Irish flag which read "Jason for double gold" before performing Bolt's trademark "Lightning Bolt" pose on the podium.

Related articles

• Paralympics 2012 News: Hurricane Hannah breezes into Paralympic final
• Smyth breaks record in qualifying
• [Blog] One word that sums it all up? Beauty
• Ireland's Paralympians: Inspiration Beyond Belief
• Michael McKillop: A modest, articulate young runner with the world at his feet