Jason Smyth won his second gold medal at the IPC European Athletics Championship in Swansea on Thursday, adding the T12 200 metres title to the 100 metres crown he won on Tuesday.
The reigning double Paralympic and world champion took gold in a time of 21.67seconds, well clear of Spaniard Joan Munar in second (22.28) and Artem Loginov of Russia in third (22.55).
Smyth knocked .67 seconds of his semi-final time, on a wet track and into a significant headwind (-0.8m/s), to cap a frustrating season in which things haven’t always gone to plan.
“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,” said the Eglinton man afterwards. “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.”
Orla Barry became the third Irish athlete to medal in Swansea when she claimed silver in the F57 Discus.
The 24-year-old threw 28.13m to finish ahead of German athlete Ilke Wyludda and add European silver to the world silver she won last year in France. Bulgaria’s Stela Eneva took gold with a season’s best of 31.88m.
“I’m really happy to win silver,” said Barry, who is a double amputee. “I hadn’t been throwing that well in training the last while so to perform far better today at a Championships when it really counts is great; I’m delighted.”
Lorraine Regan was also in action in the F56 Javelin. The 24-year-old threw a season’s best of 15.80m in her favourite event to place fifth, with world and European record holder Martina Willing of Germany claimed gold with a throw of 20.71m. Regan will be in action again tomorrow (Friday) in the final of the F57 Shot Put.
Catherine O’Neill is also competing on Friday. The 2012 Paralympic silver medallist in the F51 Discus is competing in the F32/F51 club throw (combined class).
Four-time Paralympic gold medallist David Casino added the 2014 European title to his collection with a victory in the discus F11.
The 42-year-old Spaniard, who excelled in the shot put before focussing his attentions more recently on the discus, clinched gold with 38.70m on his third attempt, which remained the winning mark.
“I put a lot of emotion into every throw and I was really willing that discus to fly a long way. I’ve won a lot of major titles but it still feels very special,” he said. “My wife is my guide so it’s wonderful we can spend time together competing and I have to thank her and my coach who is back in Spain.
“We’ve really enjoyed our time in Swansea - it’s been a great competition.”
