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Jason Smyth
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Jason Smyth (born 4 July 1987) is an Irish retired[1] sprint runner. He competes in the T13 disability sport classification as he is legally blind, with his central vision being affected by Stargardt's disease;[2] he also competes in elite non-Paralympic competition. As of July 2014[update], Smyth holds T13 World records in the 100m and 200m events.[3][4]
Key Information
He was selected to represent Northern Ireland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.[5] Deterioration in his vision meant that he was reassigned to the T12 classification in 2014, but he was subsequently reclassified back to T13 in 2015.[6]
Career
[edit]He won two golds for Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics setting records at the Men's 100 metres T13 and the Men's 200 metres T13, which led some Irish news sources to compare his feat to that of Usain Bolt, who achieved a similar feat at the 2008 Summer Olympics[7] In 2015 the International Paralympic Committee's website also compared him to Bolt.[8] Comparisons to Bolt have also been made by some non-Irish news sources such as CNN.[9]
Smyth made history as the first Paralympian to compete at an open European championships, qualifying for the semi-finals of the 100 metres. Smyth ran 10.43 seconds, finishing 4th in his heat.[10] He just missed out on the final by finishing 4th in semi-finals in a time of 10.47 seconds.[11] Smyth was selected to represent Northern Ireland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but had to withdraw from the team due to a back injury.[12][13]
He won a bronze medal with the Irish relay team in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2011 European Team Championships.
Smyth hoped to compete in both the Paralympics and the Olympics in 2012. Although he ran 10.22 for the 100m in May 2011, this was 0.04s short of the A time needed to secure a place in the Olympic Games.[14][15]
At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Smyth won Heat 1 of the 100m final breaking the World Record in a time of 10.54 seconds before breaking the record again in the final where he defended his Paralympic title in a time of 10.46 seconds.[16] This final was also marked as the fastest Paralympic 100 metres in history. Smyth equalled his Beijing achievement by winning gold in the Men's T13 200m with a world record time of 21.05 seconds.[17]
At the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Smyth won Gold in the 100m final. The Irishman clocked 10.64 seconds as he finished 0.14 ahead of Namibia's Johannes Nambala.[18]
At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Smyth again won Gold in the 100m final. He clocked 10.53 seconds as he finished 0.01 ahead of Algeria's Skander Djamil Athmani.[19]
In 2017 the International Paralympic Committee's website described him as "the world's fastest Paralympian".[20] In 2015 it had described him as "the fastest para-athlete of all time",[8] while Britain's BBC described him as "the world's fastest ever Paralympian" in 2016.[21]
In December 2023 he was announced in the line-up for Dancing with the Stars Ireland season 7. On Saint Patrick's Day 2024, despite receiving low scores throughout the competition, Smyth and his dance partner Karen Byrne were announced as the winners of the show.[22]
Personal life
[edit]Jason is from Eglinton. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[23]
Smyth was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to Paralympic athletics and the sporting community in Northern Ireland.[24][25]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Six-time Paralympic champion Jason Smyth of Ireland retires undefeated". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Smyth's Olympic quest won't curb his Paralympic career". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "IPC Athletics World Records – Men's 100m". Archived from the original on 21 October 2014.
- ^ "IPC Athletics World Records – Men's 200m". Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Jason Smyth could face Usain Bolt in Glasgow". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ O'Rourke, Steve (21 October 2015). "Double Paralympic champion Jason Smyth gets massive boost ahead of tomorrow's World Championships". The42.
- ^ "Irish team heading home". RTÉ Sport. 19 September 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Jason Smyth, the Usain Bolt of the Paralympic Games, out to win sixth gold at Rio 2016". International Paralympic Committee. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
Irishman, the fastest para-athlete of all time, in Brazil to help celebrate one year until the Games.
- ^ Matias Grez (9 September 2016). "Paralympics day 2: Jason Smyth emulates Bolt, controversy on the track". CNN. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
Emulating Bolt? Plenty was written about Usain Bolt's historic "triple-triple,", but one Irish sprinter matched the Jamaican by winning his third consecutive Paralympic gold. ... The Irishman is also reigning Paralympic champion in the 200m but won't have the opportunity to win a "triple-double", after the International Paralympic Committee opted to drop the event from the Games.
- ^ Haughey, John (28 July 2010). "Paralympian Smyth misses out on place in 100m final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ Foley, Cliona (28 July 2010). "Athletics: Smyth makes Euro history". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Smyth to miss Commonwealth Games". BBC. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Athletics NI Statement: Smyth Withdraws from Commonwealth Games Archived 24 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ O'Riordan, Ian (8 April 2012). "Time now to be making those London times, folks". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Paralympics 2012: Irish sprinter Jason Smyth thanks Tyson Gay for help". The Guardian. Press Association. 30 August 2012. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "The Sports - Athletics - London 2012 Paralympics | Channel 4". Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ^ "Smyth doubles up in record style". The Irish Times.
- ^ Bailey, Ryan (9 September 2016). "Sensational Jason Smyth storms to fifth Paralympic gold medal in Rio". The42.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ "Paralympics 2020: Jason Smyth wins sixth gold after dramatic T13 100m final". RTÉ Sport. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ "Jason Smyth". International Paralympic Committee. 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
Smyth, the world's fastest Paralympian, claimed his seventh world title at London 2017, winning double sprint gold to continue his unbeaten run in world-class Para athletics which now stands at over a decade.
- ^ John Haughey, BBC Sport NI (19 April 2016). "Jason Smyth: Paralympic star insists Rio Olympic dream is still alive". BBC. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
Smyth, the world's fastest ever Paralympian.
- ^ "Champion Paralympian Jason Smyth crowned winner of Dancing With The Stars". Journal. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ Trent Toone (25 July 2012). "Running on faith: Mormon who just missed Olympics will compete at Paralympic Games". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N25.
- ^ "New Year Honours 2022: Jason Kenny receives a knighthood and Laura Kenny made a dame". BBC Sport. 31 December 2021.
External links
[edit]- Jason Smyth at the International Paralympic Committee
- Jason Smyth at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)
- Jason Smyth at Paralympics Ireland (profile 1)
- Jason Smyth at Paralympics Ireland (profile 2)
- Official website
Jason Smyth
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Background
Birth and Family
Jason Smyth was born on 4 July 1987 in Derry, Northern Ireland.[13] He grew up in the close-knit family of Lloyd and Diane Smyth, who raised him alongside four younger siblings in the rural village of Eglinton, located just outside Derry.[14][15] As the eldest child, Smyth was the first of five siblings, including sisters Leeza, Laura Jane, and Jessica, and brother Justin.[16] The Smyth family resided in Eglinton, a small rural community in County Londonderry, where Jason experienced a typical childhood amid the Irish countryside, marked by family-oriented activities and community ties.[17] His parents instilled strong values through their shared faith as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, providing a supportive structure that emphasized moral guidance and familial unity during his early years.[13] This foundation of encouragement from Lloyd, Diane, and his siblings helped shape a resilient family dynamic, with the parents actively involved in their children's upbringing in the serene, village setting.[18]Education and Early Interests
Jason Smyth attended Eglinton Primary School in his hometown of Eglinton, County Londonderry, for his early education.[19] He progressed to Limavady Grammar School in 1999, at age 12, where he completed his secondary education in 2006.[19][20] During his time at Limavady Grammar School, Smyth studied Physical Education and participated in school leadership as a prefect, contributing to non-athletic school governance and community efforts.[19][20] His early interests included sports such as football, rugby, and athletics, where his speed was notable, participating in school teams before focusing on para-athletics.[17][21] Smyth's early years in the close-knit village of Eglinton, as the eldest of five siblings from a local family, fostered a sense of community involvement that shaped his formative experiences.[22]Visual Impairment
Condition and Diagnosis
Jason Smyth was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease at the age of eight, a genetic form of juvenile macular degeneration that primarily affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision.[23][24] The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, and in Smyth's case, it was passed through his family, with his mother as a carrier and his grandfather also affected.[25] Prior to diagnosis, Smyth had normal vision, but symptoms emerged around this time, marking the onset in late childhood, consistent with the typical presentation of the disease between ages 6 and 20.[26][27] The primary symptoms of Stargardt's disease include progressive central vision loss, often described as a central blur or scotoma that worsens over time, while peripheral vision remains relatively intact.[28] For Smyth, this resulted in severe impairment, reducing his vision to approximately 5-10% of normal levels and qualifying him as legally blind, with visual acuity worse than 6/60 in the better eye.[29][30] Diagnosis was confirmed through clinical evaluation by an ophthalmologist, likely involving fundus examination revealing characteristic yellow-white flecks around the macula and genetic testing to identify mutations in the ABCA4 gene, which is responsible for the majority of cases.[31][27] There is no cure for Stargardt's disease, and initial management focuses on slowing progression and maximizing remaining vision through strategies such as avoiding high-dose vitamin A supplements to prevent lipofuscin buildup in the retina, using UV-protective sunglasses to shield against light damage, and early referral to low-vision specialists for aids like magnifiers or screen readers.[24][32] Smyth's early diagnosis allowed for prompt implementation of these supportive measures, though the disease's progressive nature continued to affect his central vision into adulthood.[33]Impact on Daily Life and Sports Classification
Smyth's visual impairment, stemming from Stargardt's disease diagnosed at age eight, progressed to legal blindness, defined as less than 10% vision with central vision completely obscured and only blurry peripheral sight remaining.[34][35] This condition significantly curtailed his independence, preventing him from driving or traveling abroad unaccompanied, and necessitating reliance on family, coaches, and assistive technologies for routine navigation and tasks.[34] In everyday activities, such as learning new movements or accessing information, he adapts by using tactile feedback and audio aids rather than visual cues, allowing him to maintain functionality despite the challenges.[35][3] For eligibility in Paralympic athletics, Smyth underwent classification by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), resulting in his assignment to the T13 category for athletes with visual impairments.[6] The T13 class applies to competitors with the least severe eligible vision loss, specifically visual acuity ranging from approximately 6/36 to 6/60 (or LogMAR 1.0 to 1.4) and/or a visual field of more than 20 degrees but less than 40 degrees, enabling some light perception but substantial functional limitations.[36] The classification process involves comprehensive assessments by IPC-certified panels, including precise visual acuity measurements via the LogMAR system—which replaced the less accurate Snellen chart for greater reliability—and evaluations of visual field extent to confirm eligibility and prevent misallocation.[37] Smyth's initial 2006 classification as T13 was later reviewed in 2014 amid disease progression, temporarily shifting him to T12 before further testing in 2015 reaffirmed T13 status, highlighting the ongoing, protestable nature of these evaluations to ensure fairness across competitions.[38][37]Athletic Career
Introduction to Paralympic Athletics
Jason Smyth began his competitive running career at the age of 16 in 2003, participating in local events after his school teacher at Limavady Grammar School in Northern Ireland recognized his natural speed during physical education assessments.[20] Encouraged to channel this potential, he joined the Derry City Track Club, where he started sprint training under his first coach, Stephen Maguire, who would guide him for the next nine years.[23] This marked the initial step in his athletic journey, transitioning from casual school activities to structured sessions at the local track in Derry.[20] At 17, Smyth became involved in Paralympic sports through Irish athletics programs, qualifying for the T13 classification due to his visual impairment from Stargardt's disease, which affects central vision.[6] His early motivations stemmed from a desire to overcome the limitations of his condition through physical activity, viewing sport as an empowering outlet that provided freedom and self-acceptance.[3] Additionally, the opportunity to represent his country excited him, as he later reflected: "The thought of running for your country – at that age too when you are at school - it sounds cool."[20] Smyth's perfectionist mindset further drove him, pushing him to commit fully once he decided to pursue athletics seriously.[20] Smyth's rapid progress led to his international debut at the 2005 IPC Athletics European Championships in Espoo, Finland, where he won gold medals in both the T13 100m and 200m events, establishing him as a promising talent in Paralympic sprinting.[20][4] This breakthrough performance highlighted his potential to compete at elite levels despite his visual challenges, setting the foundation for a distinguished career.[20]Paralympic Achievements
Jason Smyth made his Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, where he dominated the T13 classification sprints. In the men's 100m T13 final, he claimed gold with a world record time of 10.62 seconds.[6] He followed this with another gold in the 200m T13, setting a world record of 21.43 seconds.[6] At the 2012 London Paralympics, Smyth continued his success, winning gold in the men's 100m T13 final in a world record 10.46 seconds, surpassing his previous mark.[6] He secured a second gold in the 200m T13 with a world record time of 21.05 seconds.[6] Smyth's unbeaten streak extended to the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where he won gold in the men's 100m T13 final with a time of 10.64 seconds.[6] He did not compete in the 200m at these Games. In his final Paralympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021), Smyth earned gold in the men's 100m T13 final, clocking 10.53 seconds for his sixth Paralympic title.[8] Across four Paralympic Games, he remained undefeated in all finals contested in the 100m and 200m events.[1]| Games | Event | Medal | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing 2008 | 100m T13 | Gold | 10.62 |
| Beijing 2008 | 200m T13 | Gold | 21.43 |
| London 2012 | 100m T13 | Gold | 10.46 |
| London 2012 | 200m T13 | Gold | 21.05 |
| Rio 2016 | 100m T13 | Gold | 10.64 |
| Tokyo 2020 | 100m T13 | Gold | 10.53 |
