Jason Smyth

The sprinter from Derry, who represented Ireland in four Paralympic Games and Northern Ireland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was Paralympic sport's fastest ...

I’ve competed at many Paralympic Games, World Championships and European Championships, 21 gold medals, but probably the thing that I’m most proud about is the fact that I was able to go unbeaten throughout that time.” He also retained the 100m title at Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. The visually-impaired Smyth, who competed in the T13 classification, won 100m and 200m doubles at the Beijing and London Games in 2008 and 2012.

Smyth bows out as a multiple Paralympic and world champion, having never lost a competitive Para Athletics event throughout his entire journey and deservedly ...

I feel that I have a lot to offer thanks to my experiences as an athlete and as someone that has been in the Paralympic and Disability sporting environment since my youth. There are so many people that have helped me along the way from my coaches, support staff, to my teammates, partners and my competitors. “I now look forward to joining my new teammates at Paralympics Ireland. “I think now is the right time for me to step away from competitive Paralympic Sport,” Smyth said as he announced his retirement. The first-ever Paralympian to compete in those events, Smyth also represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. “I have loved my time with Team Ireland and I have had many incredible memories that I will really treasure from my time as an athlete.

Irish sporting legend Jason Smyth will continue to be a positive influence on the Paralympic Movement as the new strategy manager at Paralympics Ireland.

We will work to positively disrupt the current discourse around disability sport and to shine a spotlight on the incredible ability of sportspersons with a disability and inspire a move to a new outlook on disability. I feel that I have a lot to offer thanks to my experiences as an athlete and as someone that has been in the Paralympic and Disability sporting environment since my youth," Smyth said. Smyth will continue to be a positive influence on Irish Paralympic Sport after his retirement as he will be joining the staff at Paralympics Ireland. "He has transcended Paralympic sport and become a true sporting icon thanks to his outstanding successes as an athlete. [Jason Smyth](/jason-smyth) was acclaimed during most of his career as the “Fastest Paralympian on the Planet”, with a glittering career which saw him win gold medals in every event in which he competed including six gold medals at the Paralympic Games in the 100m and 200m events. I lived and fulfilled the dream and now I hope to support the next generation of Para athletes on their journey," Smyth said.

Smyth saved the best until last, winning the 100m in Tokyo against Algeria's Skander Djamil Athmani, the fastest qualifier for the final, ...

"He has transcended Paralympic Sport and become a true sporting icon thanks to his outstanding successes as an athlete. “Whilst one part of Jason’s career is coming to an end another is just beginning. "I am delighted that we will be able to work alongside Jason who will bring all of his experience to bear as Paralympics Ireland works on behalf of Paralympians, Sportspeople with a disability and the disability community.” “I now look forward to joining my new teammates at Paralympics Ireland.. "We will work to positively disrupt the current discourse around disability sport and to shine a spotlight on the incredible ability of sportspersons with a disability and inspire a move to a new outlook on disability. I am delighted to welcome Jason to the staff of Paralympics Ireland and to work with him to gain the benefit of his experience and his expertise as our new Strategy Manager.

Irish Paralympics great Jason Smyth has announced his retirement from competitive running after a glittering career spanning two decades.

I can't wait to start this new stage of my career and giving back to the sport that has meant so much to me." "There are so many people that have helped me along the way from my coaches, support staff, to my team-mates, partners and my competitors. Reflecting on his decision to retire, Smyth said: "I think now is the right time for me to step away from competitive Paralympic sport. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Smyth saved his best performance for last. He would never relinquish those titles.

Smyth, known as the "Fastest Paralympian on the Planet" won six gold medals in the 100m and 200m races at the Paralympics.

“I now look forward to joining my new teammates at Paralympics Ireland. On the decision to hang up his spikes, Smyth said: "I think now is the right time for me to step away from competitive Paralympic Sport. The 35-year-old also won eight gold medals at the World Championships, six gold medals at the European Championships, and a gold in the World Indoor Championships.

PARALYMPIAN Jason Smyth yesterday announced his retirement from Para Athletics. The Eglinton, Co Derry native has decided to hang up his spikes after an ...

He was the first ever Paralympian to compete in those events. That mark is still a Northern Ireland record. Retirement also means that his victory at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo less than two years ago may be remembered as his very best.

The man from Eglinton in Derry won 21 major championship medals across the Games, Worlds, Europeans and Indoors.

“The reality is I feel that, for a lot of that time, I was ahead of the game and maybe I was part of pushing things forward. His career, most of it as a 100m runner and in the T13 classification, spanned three different decades, but he won a few in the T12 as well and eight of his haul came in the 200m. He had 21 gold medals in his pocket and a young family at home and he knew that the addition of one more ribbon wouldn’t do much to embellish his legacy. No-one was to know then that this was the big finish in more ways than one. To pull it together in that moment under that pressure by a hundredth of a second… “As an experience, London (2012), just the Games, the hype, the atmosphere, I was so close to home, family was there, friends were there, it was really a shift in Para sport.