From the Irish Examiner IRISH sprinter Jason Smyth is set to train alongside former 100m world champion Tyson Gay as he commences his bid to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Smyth, who won two gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics, aims to travel to Florida later this year to work with Lance Brauman who coaches Gay and a number of top sprinters including Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown.
Smyth’s mentor Stephen Maguire has been in regular contact with Brauman about the prospect of working with the talented Northern Ireland runner who suffers from Stargardt’s Disease, a degenerative impairment that affects his central but not peripheral vision.
Smyth is bidding to become the first track and field athlete to compete in both an Olympics and a Paralympics in the same year.
Said Maguire: “Qualifying for the Olympics is realistic. If you look at his times you would say the chances are slim. But we believe that if can get quality training partners, and work on his strength and technique it is possible.
“Last year I developed a relationship with Lance and he is very interested and excited.”
Maguire confirmed that he is in talks with the Irish Sports Council and their Northern Ireland counterparts about the plan. Both organisations are fully supportive of the programme.
Smyth won gold medals over 100m and 200m in China last September but Maguire admits he may have to change his repertoire to qualify for London.
“We would look at the 200m, 400m and possibly the 4x400m replay if Ireland had a team.”
