Jason Smyth

[white lightning]

This guy should be an inspiration to us all. He is a visually impaired sprinter who won the gold medal at the last Para Olympics. He is so good though that he often races against normal sprinters and beats them. Here is a great article about this fine young man. I would love to see Craig Pickering learn from some of his methods. The kid trained with Tyson Gay. It doesn't get much better than that. The warm weather training is also far more desirable. I hope he can eventually break the Irish Record.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/23/jason-smyth-paralympic-world-cupEdited by: white lightning

 

[mastermulti]

good for him! Gee, training with those people... that's a good gig if you can get it.

Yep, Craig should just go away and train with a group somewhere OS. Trouble is, his chances of getting into the U.S system (for example) have probably tumbled in the last 12 months

 

[white lightning]

Jason Smyth set another p.b. on June 12th with a 10.32! The wind was only 0.6 so he did it on his own power. This kid is a joy to watch and he should inspire people because of his disability which doesn't slow him down a bit. He will be representing Ireland in the European Team Cup Championships in the 100 meters. Hession will run only in the 200 meters. I hope he can set another p.b. Such a likeable guy.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

he inspires me. not because of his disability, but because he refuses to let it slow him down. he considers himself an athlete, not an athlete with a handicap. THAT, my friend, is why he keeps chasing his dream and dropping impressive times on the track. he will let nothing slow him down!

the fact that this exceptionally strong-willed speedster is a White man makes the story even more awesome.

 

[kre08]

Jeez, if this guy keeps getting much faster he's going to become more than a feel good story, he'll be a legitmate prospect for us. He's just a shade off 10.2's and to me that's getting into world class range.

 

[mastermulti]

here's his run:

Smyth 10.32

 

[white lightning]

Another race and another new p.b. for Jason. Nice win for his at the Euro Cup Team Champs!


100m Men Date: 19 June 2010; Time: 17:35
1 SMYTH, Jason IRL 10.27
2 OBIKWELU, Francis POR 10.28
3 OSOVNIKAR, Matic SLO 10.42
3 VELEBA, Jan CZE 10.42
5 KLING-BAPTISTE, Tom SWE 10.53
6 NEMETH, Gergely HUN 10.57
7 SAFER, Izzet TUR 10.59
8 CIMPEANU, Catalin ROU 10.61
9 DOUGLAS, Caimin NED 10.63
10 VERHOEVEN, Wout BEL 10.66
11 PULST, Richard EST 10.70


12 PRANCKEVICIUS, Aivaras LTU 10.72

 

[The Master]

woaow !!

Congrats to him !

 

[white is right]

He will be entered in the Commonwealth games if he chooses to go. Also he has a shot to be in the Great Britain relay pool for the Euros. Nice accomplishments...

 

[white lightning]

He is one of the feel good stories of the summer. I should add however that the race was slightly wind aided so it won't count as a personal best. It shows how warm weather training can really help your performances. I hope he trains in Florida again next year. This should be a memo to Pickering. Change coaches and try a different training routine in the States. Edited by: white lightning

 

[white lightning]

Here is a great video from a while back. He is so much faster now but I think you guys will still enjoy this. Way to go Jason! The pride of Ireland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqkpBrnAGs4

 

[mastermulti]

getting on a bit now , but Obikwelu is still a nice scalp for the young Irishman.
10.27 murders his old paralympic WRs of 10.81 and 10.62 run the same day in Beijing 2008

 

[white lightning]

Here is a new article on Jason. This kid is fun to watch. It's amazing how far he has taken his athletics career despite his rare eye disease which leaves him with almost no vision. I would love to see him set a few more personal bests this year. I'm glad to hear Tyson Gay took some time to help the kid out. One thing I will say about Gay. He is very humble for a sprinter. It's nice to see an american sprinter other than Wariner that is modest and not a showoff.

Good luck to Jason this year. Ireland is really producing some high caliber athletes for such a small country.

 

[the argie]

I have just seen thetimes for Daegu and, compared with those of Berlin, they are a bit harder.

http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/87/48/20101119060839_httppostedfile_daegustandards_22853.pdf

Jason's PB is 10.32. Then, he would have to improve hisPB in 7/100. So, he's got 8 months to improve. My question is: Can he do that?

 

[Observer]

A FANASTIC RESULT BY JASON SMYTH TODAY! Running 10.22 and placing 3rd in an international-class field! Even better, this is his first race back after ending last season by injury.
Jason Smyth sets new NI 100m record in Florida

 

[white lightning]

You have to love this kid. Especially the fact the he is not afraid to line up next to anyone. I think the fact that he is legally blind makes him tougher mentally. He will race two more times in the Unites States. I hope I can watch at least one of the races. Jason is the pride of Ireland at the moment and I'm sure he makes blind people everywhere stand up and smile!

 

[white lightning]

Jason Smyth continued his fine early season form last weekend running a 10.29 wind legal time. He will be racing in New York in the Diamond League Race. I am really happy for him to get such a great opportunity to be seen live on tv all around the world. This race will be against a very high caliber field so he might have a chance to break his p.b. if the conditions are right. Good luck to this very fast Irishman!

 

[white is right]

I always thought he was from Northern Ireland. I wonder how much of a handicap being legally blind is. I know there was once a legally deaf runner in the 80's who had a pb about 10.1 or 10.2 and he looked at the starter pistol and when he saw the gun go he took off. I think it was estimated he lost about .2 of a second off his start. I wish I could remember the runner's name. I remember he was Black and maybe represented Guyana. Edited by: white is right

 

[albinosprint]

I'm technically legally blind without my glasses and I can tell you its almost impossible to run the hundred with out seeing. it happen to me once at a meet in college. i was at away meet and i had lost a contact so i switched to my glasses. while clerking in for the 100m i was getting my sweats off and knocked my glass off my face and someone stepped on them and destroyed them. needless to say when I ran I was all over the lane and ran a very sh*tty time. so, its very hard to run without being able to see.

 

[white is right]

Thank god you didn't hurdle...

 

[albinosprint]

Oh no, I would risk the family jewels