Smyth leads qualifying for world’s fastest para-athlete showdown

The Irishman will go head-to-head with Richard Browne, Evan O’Hanlon and Petrucio Ferreira in Rio on Monday to determine who is the world’s fastest para-athlete. 06 Sep 2015

Brazil's Petrucio Ferreira, Australia's Evan O'Hanlon, Ireland's Jason Smyth and the USA's Richard Browne will compete in Rio to find the world's fastest para-athlete.

ⒸIPC

Ireland’s Jason Smyth qualified fastest on Sunday (6 September) in the heats to find the world’s fastest para-athlete as part Rio 2016’s Paralympic Festival to celebrate one year to go and launch ticket sales for next year’s Paralympic Games.

On Monday (7 September), the 28-year-old four-time Paralympic champion will go head-to-head with the USA’s Richard Browne, Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon and Brazil’s home favourite Petrucio Ferreira to decide who is the fastest over 100m.

On a fast four-lane track, Smyth clocked 10.63 seconds to win the first heat ahead of the USA’s London 2012 and Lyon 2013 silver medallist Richard Browne (10.84) in second and Brazil’s Felipe Gomes guided by Jorge Borges (11.42) in third.

The second heat was won in 10.79 seconds by Brazil’s 18-year-old sprint sensation Ferreira, who won the 100m and 200m gold at August’s Parapan American Games. He finished ahead of Australia’s four-time Paralympic champion O’Hanlon (10.91) and the USA’s David Brown guided by Jerome Avery (11.07).

As part of the Paralympic Festival, the world’s fastest female para-athlete will also be determined on Monday with the Cuban duo of Omara Durand and Yunidis Castillo racing Brazil’s Terezinha Guilhermina.

A full day of activities are planned on Monday and more information on the day can be found here.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place between 7 and 18 September.