Not for the first time Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop repeated their double Paralympics heroics for Team Ireland with gold medal performances on the same evening – this time at the World Para Athletics Championships at the London Olympic Stadium on Sunday night.
Back at the same stadium where he won double Paralympics gold in 2012, Smyth claimed his sixth world 100 metres titles in the T13 division, the Derry athlete clocking 10.63 seconds to easily see off the best of his rivals.
“‘I knew from the heats I’d run the quickest and it was mine to lose so it was just about going out and executing my race, being patient and thankfully I was able to cross the line first,” said Smyth.
“When you come back to London and you look back at the Games here and consider how incredible it was, the reality is they’ve set new standards and a new bar for how world championships should be done. Adding that all into tonight it’s just phenomenal to be here and to do it again.
“I had my wife and my daughter in the crowd, and all my family and it’s those moments that make it all the more special, to enjoy it with the people that mean the most.”
Less than 10 minutes later, Ballymena’s McKillop made it eight gold medals in these championships as he cruised to another 800 metres title in what was a season best of 2:00.92.
McKillop admitted that tactics hatched at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics worked a treat in London.
“Myself and my dad came up with tactics for today from Beijing 2008. No one in that race today was in my race in Beijing so they didn’t know what I was going to do.
“I looked over my right shoulder from 240 metres to go and did a pick up and the Canadian came right behind me. I just kicked and whenever I do that no one can stay with me and I was able to come down the home straight knowing that I had a gap, but I was able to keep driving on for the finish line.”
Referring to winning within minutes of team-mate Smyth, McKillop added: “It’s really special to have followed in the footsteps of your best friend. To have that moment, to be able to do a lap of honour together after so many years competing in Paralympic sport.
“Also to be able to do it here with my fiancé and family in the crowd it’s even better. To see her in tears it just shows you that it’s teamwork. It’s not just me on the track – it’s my whole family and all the support team.”
Smyth and McKillop's back-to-back gold medals followed the silver won by both Niamh McCarthy and Orla Barry in their respective classes in discus.
Barry secured silver in the F57 category with a best throw of 28.89 metres; McCarthy having earlier delivered Ireland’s first medal as she took silver in the F41 discus final.
