Congratulations Jason Smyth

deman

Well done to Jason Smyth after winning gold in the 100m T13 in the Paralympics in Beijing. Not only did he win the gold but smashed his own World Record in the process with a time of 10.62s.

Seifer

Saw this on the news and noticed that his time is only about one second slower than the standard world record. What is his disability?

Pherekydes

Seifer wrote: »

Saw this on the news and noticed that his time is only about one second slower than the standard world record. What is his disability?

He's partially blind.

shels4ever

Pherekydes wrote: »

He's partially blind.

great running, well done.

walshb

That is some time all the same. Hession's record is less than a half a second faster!

Makes you wonder that maybe this guy will break it. He's still so young.

Should he not be trying out for the actual Olympics next time round?

High&Low

walshb wrote: »

That is some time all the same. Hession's record is less than a half a second faster!

Makes you wonder that maybe this guy will break it. He's still so young.

Should he not be trying out for the actual Olympics next time round?

1/2 a second is a hell of a lot of 100m!!! But Smyth is a serious talent, second fastest in Ireland this year I think. I hear also the Olympics is London is going to be his primary aim over the next four years.

Pherekydes

High&Low wrote: »

1/2 a second is a hell of a lot of 100m!!! But Smyth is a serious talent, second fastest in Ireland this year I think. I hear also the Olympics is London is going to be his primary aim over the next four years.

While Jason's World T13 record is 10.62, his actual PB is 10.53. So he's only 0.35 behind Hession's national record.

He ran that 10.53 into a 0.4 headwind, while Hession's record had a 1.9 tailwind, so the real gap may be about 0.2.

walshb

High&Low wrote: »

1/2 a second is a hell of a lot of 100m!!! But Smyth is a serious talent, second fastest in Ireland this year I think. I hear also the Olympics is London is going to be his primary aim over the next four years.

For able bodied athletes it's a hell of a lot. We are talking about
a paralympic athlete here, who is still very young!

Actually, I know what you meant in your post. It's still a lot
for Smyth to break Hession's record, apologies.
But .4 of a sec over 100 metres between able and disabled is very close

So to be honest, it's a much greater feat IMO.

Second fastest in Ireland? Is this of all athletes both able and disabled?

Man, that is simply superb!

Pherekydes

walshb wrote: »

Second fastest in Ireland? Is this of all athletes both able and disabled?

Yes, Jason Smyth is currently Ireland's second fastest man, period.

Edited to add: Smyth won the 200m in another WR today. 21.43 is an outright PB for him on the biggest stage.

2nd gold for Smyth

thirtyfoot

walshb wrote: »

Second fastest in Ireland? Is this of all athletes both able and disabled?

That would be all athletes. He is the 8th fastest all-time in Ireland over 100m, only 0.01 behind Mark Howard who won a bronze over 200 at Euro U23 level. Top 10 is:

1 - Hession 10.18
2 - Brizzell 10.35
2 - Gary Ryan 10.35
4 - McAdorey 10.45
4 - O' Donoghue 10.45
6 - Neil Ryan 10.46
7 - Howard 10.52
8 - Smyth 10.53
9 - Comyns 10.54
10 - Power 10.57

To be No 2 all-time is definetely on his radar.

walshb

Pherekydes wrote: »

Yes, Jason Smyth is currently Ireland's second fastest man, period.

Edited to add: Smyth won the 200m in another WR today. 21.43 is an outright PB for him on the biggest stage.

2nd gold for Smyth

Wow, if he was a woman he'd be the 2nd fastest ever!:D

Amazing talent and if there was a 'p4p' award, he'd bet them all, Bolt included

walshb

Tingle wrote: »

That would be all athletes. He is the 8th fastest all-time in Ireland over 100m, only 0.01 behind Mark Howard who won a bronze over 200 at Euro U23 level. Top 10 is:

1 - Hession 10.18
2 - Brizzell 10.35
2 - Gary Ryan 10.35
4 - McAdorey 10.45
4 - O' Donoghue 10.45
6 - Neil Ryan 10.46
7 - Howard 10.52
8 - Smyth 10.53
9 - Comyns 10.54
10 - Power 10.57

To be No 2 all-time is definetely on his radar.

Tingle, do you know the specific diasability he has. It's a sight problem; but to what extent and what exactly is T13?

Thanks

Pherekydes

walshb wrote: »

Tingle, do you know the specific diasability he has. It's a sight problem; but to what extent and what exactly is T13?

Thanks

Some info:

ATHLETICS

All disability groups can compete in athletics but a system of letters and numbers is used to distinguish between them.

A letter F is for field athletes, T represents those who compete on the track, and the number shown refers to their disability.

11-13: track and field athletes who are visually impaired
20: track and field athletes who are intellectually disabled
31-38: track and field athletes with cerebral palsy
41-46: track and field amputees and les autres
T 51-56: wheelchair track athletes
F 51-58: wheelchair field athletes

Blind athletes compete in class 11 and are permitted to run with a sighted guide, while field athletes in the class are allowed the use of acoustic signals, for example electronic noises, clapping or voices, if they compete in the 100m, long jump or triple jump.

Athletes in classes 42, 43 and 44 must wear a prosthesis while competing, but this is optional for classes 45 and 46.

T13: From visual acuity above 2/60 to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.

High&Low

walshb wrote: »

Tingle, do you know the specific diasability he has. It's a sight problem; but to what extent and what exactly is T13?

Thanks

He is unable to focus properly but can see the white lines on the track. It can be difficult for him to see the lines properly when it is raining. He can't see the finish line clearly either so is unable to time his dip.

It must be pointed out though, that Jason Smyth is reasonably well funded in comparison to an athlete of equal ability (who is not visualy impaired) and is able to train pretty much full time. One of the reasons that there are a number of paralympians from the North representing Ireland in the paralympics is that they are better funded than if they chose to represent the UK.

I am not criticising him or his funding in anyway.

Common Sense

This is an absolutely amazing feat and in his category he has achieved exactly that achieved by Usain Bolt - the 100/200 double in world record times. In my view, Padraig Harrington notwithstanding, he is Ireland's sports person of the year.

Pherekydes

Common Sense wrote: »

In my view, Padraig Harrington notwithstanding, he is Ireland's sports person of the year.

Padraig Harrington?

thirtyfoot

Pherekydes wrote: »

Padraig Harrington?

Common Sense wrote: »

sports person of the year.

Pheredykes, I think Common Sense is confused as that fella Harrington isn't a sports person, is he? He is a golfer isn't he? Or maybe he means the guy who won the Eurovision a few years ago. Speaking of which, they are changing the voting on the Eurovision so we may have a chance again. Martin Cullen to come out and say we should focus on boxing, pole vault and Eurovision as they are our best chances of Gold as white people can win them:D

shels4ever

Tingle wrote: »

Pheredykes, I think Common Sense is confused as that fella Harrington isn't a sports person, is he? He is a golfer isn't he? Or maybe he means the guy who won the Eurovision a few years ago. Speaking of which, they are changing the voting on the Eurovision so we may have a chance again. Martin Cullen to come out and say we should focus on boxing, pole vault and Eurovision as they are our best chances of Gold as white people can win them:D

Check this out
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/sport?view=uk

I think golf meets all of these

RoyMcC

What 'physical exertion' would that be Shels? Walking around a bit and swinging a club occasionally?

Skill I'll grant you...:)

shels4ever

I agree with you on this . I don't think it is a sport.. but going on this I'm wrong ...

walshb

Pherekydes wrote: »

Some info:



T13: From visual acuity above 2/60 to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.

Thanks mate!

Am I right then in thinking that Jason sees detail 20 feet away the same as we see that detail from 200 feet away?

Foot Metre Decimal LogMAR
20/200 6/60 0.10 1.00
20/160 6/48 0.13 0.90
20/120 6/36 0.17 0.78
20/100 6/30 0.20 0.70
20/80 6/24 0.25 0.60
20/60 6/18 0.33 0.48
20/50 6/15 0.40 0.40
20/40 6/12 0.50 0.30
20/30 6/9 0.63 0.18
20/25 6/7.5 0.80 0.10
20/20 6/6 1.00 0.00
20/16 6/4.8 1.25 -0.10
20/12 6/3.6 1.67 -0.22

'A visual acuity of 20/20 is frequently described as meaning that a person can see detail from 20 feet away the same as a person with normal eyesight would see from 20 feet. If a person has a visual acuity of 20/40, he is said to see detail from 20 feet away the same as a person with normal eyesight would see it from 40 feet away. It is possible to have vision superior to 20/20: the maximum acuity of the human eye without visual aids (such as binoculars) is generally thought to be around 20/10 (6/3) however, recent test subjects have exceeded 20/8 vision. Recent developments in optometry have resulted in corrective lenses conferring upon the wearer a vision of up to 20/10. Some birds, such as hawks, are believed to have an acuity of around 20/2; in this respect, their vision is much better than human eyesight.'

deman

walshb wrote: »

Thanks mate!

Am I right then in thinking that Jason sees detail 20 feet away the same as we see that detail from 200 feet away?

No. He has Stargardt's disease which means he can't see anything directly in front of him.

Oh, and he's on The Late Late Show tonight.