Smyth on trackfor London 2012

Currently training in Florida alongside a group of world class sprinters, five of which have run 100 metres under 10 seconds this season including the second fastest man in history, Tyson Gay, the 24-year-old is hoping to compete at both the Olympics and Paralympic Games this summer in both the 100 and 200 metres.

His coach Stephen Maguire believes Smyth, who after running an Olympic B Standard of 10.22 this season, is on his way to achieving his goal and lining up alongside Usain Bolt in starting blocks in London.

“Jason is stronger and fitter than he has ever been and I’m really pleased with how the way training has been going,” admitted Maguire, who was speaking to Sentinel Sport from Florida.

“At the minute he’s four 100ths of a second off the qualifying time for the Olympics, which is like a click of our fingers or the length of a finger nail.

“We have been out in Florida since November and although we went back home for a few weeks over Christmas that has been about it, the rest of the time we have been in America, where the warm weather training certainly has helped Jason.”

With, Sunday, July 8th the final day for anyone to qualify for the Ireland squad, Maguire is hopeful Smyth will be ready.

“We will be doing some mini races in April here in America and but our main races will take place in May and June, so hopefully by then we’ll be ready.”

Only two years ago Smyth was the first Paralympian to compete at a European Championship and has since competed at the 2011 World Championship, while in 2008 he had two world records and secured two gold medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the Paralympics, in Beijing.

And those two gold medals is something Maguire is hoping his man can defend later this summer.

“Obviously it will be great if Jason can compete at the Olympics and he’s on course to do that, but he then has the Paralympics.”

Maguire also feels that the Liverpool supporter’s life off the track is also moving along smoothly.

“Everything in Jason’s personal life is going great for him, he got engaged recently to an American girl called Ailse Jordan and whenever things are going well off the track then it makes life that little bit more easy.”

Another hugely successful athlete taking part in London is North West Triathlon Club member Aileen Morrison.

The Triathlete finished second in the Elite Women’s section in Sunday’s ITU Triathlon European Cup, in Quarteira, Portugal and in this form is sure to have a successful 2012.