Six Appeal

Jason Smyth aiming to add to his five medals in Tokyo

- Mark McCadden

Jason Smyth reckons his experience across Beijing, London and Rio can help fire him to even more Paralympic glory this summer in Tokyo.

The sprint star, with five gold medals from his three previous Games appearances, is targeting the top of the podium once again.

And in these strange times — with Covid delaying the Olympics and Paralympics by a year and disrupting preparations — he knows his previous participation could be key.

“I think experience has a lot to play in going through this whole cycle and experience, and I think mentality is gonna be a massive one around Tokyo,” said Smyth.

“It’s not going to be like any other Games. It is gonna be more restricted.

“It looks like it’s going to be more isolated within the Games and therefore, that gives people more time to think and more time to be by themselves.