August 2 - Ireland's Jason Smyth has reflected with satisifaction on his performance at the European Championships in Barcelona, where he reached the semi-final of the 100 metres to establish himself among the continent's leading able-bodied sprinters.



Smyth timed 10.46sec when finishing fourth in a semi-final won by French star Christophe Lemaitre who went on to claim gold in a gripping final, two hours later.

Lemaitre hit the line in 10.11, an impressive winner ahead of a group of four athletes who each clocked 10.18.

Smyth had already run his own "final", admitting afterwards that he was content to have made it that far as a mainstream athlete.

"Things have gone very well," he said.

I was ranked fifth in the race, and got fourth.

"Obviously it would have nicer if they had gone a wee bit better and I made the final.

"I wanted to get to the semi-final, I knew that was achievable.

"And when you get to the semi-final, anything can happen.

"If you have a great day, you just don't know where things could end up.

"I just wanted to go out there, compete well and beat as many people as I could."

The 23-year-old from Derry would have had to smash his personal best of 10.32 in order to progress through to the final as a fastest loser.

Quicker times will undoubtedly come for the ever-improving Smyth, a double Paralympic champion from the 2008 Games in Beijing.

"Earlier on in the season, I felt 10.20s was on the cards," he said.

"That didn't happen - conditions weren't the greatest there, and in Championships it can be hard to go quicker - but that keeps you hungry and wanting to improve.

"I'm more than happy. I'll look back and realise that this is a nice stepping stone for the World Championships next year."

With interest in his story growing - he was sought out at the Olympic Stadium by newspapers, radio stations and television crews from all over Europe - Smyth's story will grow and grow.

All the way, he hopes, to the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.


Related stories
July 2010: Smyth knocked out of European Championships but with reputation enhanced
July 2010: Double delight for Smyth at European Championships
July 2010: Smyth shows fitness to confirm place at European Championships
July 2010: Smyth picked to run against Chambers and Lemaître in Barcelona
June 2010: Smyth concentrating on track despite looming history