Delhi is Smyth's next big target

The 23-year-old star athlete, fresh from semi-final success as the first paralympian to compete at the mainstream European Athletics Championship confirmed that he is now back in training and firmly dedicated to achieving even more success at the Delhi games this October.

He also hopes that Commonwealth success will prove to be the final springboard to competing at the main Olympic games in London in 2012.

Speaking to the Roe Valley Sentinel Jason said: "Monday was my first day back in training following a short break after coming home from Florida. The conditions out there were great for training and I was able to train alongside some of the best athletes in the world.

"If we can get any sponsorship at all for travelling out to the Commonwealth Games in October it will be a massive benefit. My coach isn't sponsored to take me there either so obviously if we don't get sponsored, he can't go, and I need him there."

Councillors were last night expected to take a decision on the star's sponsorship at a Development Committee meeting of Limavady borough council. Although, earlier in the year the council deferred a decision on funding the NI team trip until the budgets for the current year had been established.

Jason made history at the European Championships by becoming the first paralympian to compete in mainstream competition and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final by finishing fourth in his semi-final with a time of 10.46 seconds.

Jason said: "It's nice to be named as the first paralympian to have competed in this year's European Athletics Championships, but I don't like to get caught up in titles. I want to be able to pave the way for other athletes like myself to bridge that gap.

The double Paralympic sprint champion, who rocketed to gold in world record times in both the 100m and 200m in Bejing two years ago says every step he takes is one nearer of competing at the London Olympics.

"Obviously to qualify for London's Olympic Games in 2012 is the target, but at the moment I am focusing on the here and now and training with some of the best athletes in the world. But for now the focus is on the run up to the games in October. As part of that training I'll be competing in a few races in Europe as well as in the coming weeks when I'll be competing against a high calibre of athletes."