DEAF SPORTS Athletics deaflympics

As dusk came Wayne Reid took his place in the 10,000m at the Deaflympics, in Taipei Stadium this evening 7pm (local time) among 18 world best Deaf athletics.

At the white starting line, he was steady and in his position on his marks, as the flag goes down, he sets off on a good note allocating in his lane.

As he sprints on in the 7th laps keeping in line with athletes from Malta and Germany, Reid started to falter, getting water to quench his thirst but as he progress to the 11th lap with only 14 laps to go the 27 year old was forced to walk-off deciding enough was enough.

Reid said he was "devastated letting his country down" after pulling out of running on the tracks

Explaining his decision he added: "the heat got to me, I thought I prepared myself for it with all the training I have done here adapting to the hot climate, but I've got to put myself first"

"When I do my triathlon back at home I keep going with good ones shoulder to shoulder, building positively but that didn't happen tonight"

Reid, who has won the a swimming sliver medal at the Deaflympics in Denmark 1997, and is a promising Tri-athlone in his local club, Athlone man had complete this 11th lap at 14:30 and feels confident for the 5000m this Sunday promising this event will be completed for himself and Ireland.

Ireland's acting director Ken Taylor "Reid is not only in a position to show what he can do in front of that home crowd, but he have a genuine opportunity to fight for decent position at 5,000m track on Sunday"