IRELAND’S President Michael D Higgins has conveyed his congratulations to Jason Smyth after the Derry sprinter won his fifth gold medal at the Paralympics Games in Rio.
Jason followed up his success in Beijing in 2008 and in London four years’ ago with another 100 metre victory at this year’s Games.
“Winning another gold medal, his fifth, is an extraordinary achievement for Jason Smyth, who has already established himself as a world class athlete,” said the President.
“On behalf of the people of Ireland, I want to congratulate him on this success, and to thank him for being such a positive role model.”
With five Paralympic gold medals in three consecutive Games, Smyth hinted that he might still be around for Japan 2020 to claim winner’s medal number six.
The Egliton Derry sprinted romped to another gold medal in Rio on Friday and Smyth said after the race that the he felt that every championship was like a fairytale.
But there was certainly no talk of retirement from the champion Smyth after today’s race.
He said: “It’s a bit like a fairytale and I just keep coming to these championships wondering when the fairytale is going to end.
“But long may it keep happening. And hopefully there’s still more to come in the future.”
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