Smyth Storms To Double Gold Winning T12 200M At Paralympic Athletics European Championships

Ireland's Jason Smyth has sensationally completed the sprint double at the Paralympic Athletics European Championships in Swansea adding the T12 200m title to 100m crown he claimed earlier in the week. The reigning double Paralympic and world champion, and world record holder claimed the gold in a time of 21.67seconds, ahead of Joan Munar of Spain in silver in 22.28, and Artem Loginov of Russia in bronze in 22.55.

Into a considerable headwind (-0.8m/s), and with a wet track to contend with the athlete regarded as the fastest Paralympian on the planet, shot out of the blocks and was already clear of the field at the bend. Demonstrating his characteristic textbook sprint action the twenty seven year old impressively powered to the line almost seven tenths of a second quicker than this in morning's semi-final.

After the race Smyth said: "It's been a long summer and I seem to have had issues after issues so I'm just glad and delighted to get the medal in the 200m also. I didn't feel I performed as well as I should have in the 100m so I'm much happier after this one. Championships are about medals, so I'm over the moon that I've delivered here."

Lorraine Regan was the other Irish athlete in action this afternoon contesting the F56 Javelin. Twenty four year old Regan, impressively threw a season's best of 15.80m, in this the favoured of her two events at these Championships, to place fifth overall. World and European record holder Martina Willing of Germany claimed gold with a best throw of 20.71m. She will be in action again tomorrow in the final of the F57 Shot Put.

Earlier on Cork's Orla Barry became the third Irish athlete to medal at these Paralympic Athletics European Championships when she claimed silver in the F57 Discus with a best throw of 28.13m.

2012 Paralympic silver medallist in the F51 Discus Catherine O'Neill is also competing tomorrow. O'Neill however is competing in the F32/F51 Club Throw (combined class) as the discus in not on the programme at these Championships.