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SALT LAKE CITY -- Jason Smyth is the pride of Ireland. Visually impaired since he was 8, he has earned the nickname "The fastest Paralympian on Earth."
Smyth can't see everything, but he can see enough to run and run fast. That has allowed him to run in the Paralympics and give the Olympics his best shot, and thanks to his cheering section he is making his quick strides count.
Smyth has a lot of people cheering for him in Utah, especially his fiancé, Elise Jordan.
"He's pretty big," Jordan said. "The BBC is doing a documentary on him that will air in September and he's often featured in newspapers and TV spots."
Smyth is nearly blind because of Stargardt's disease, but can see just enough to navigate his lane on the track.
"It set in when he was eight, and it removed all but 10 percent of his eyesight," Jordan said.
But Smyth showed his inner strength, taking up sprinting when he was 17 years old. Just four years later, he would find himself on the medals stand of the Beijing Paralympics.
"In the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing he won two gold medals, both the 100 meter and the 200 meter T-13 division," Jordan said. "He also holds the world record in both. He broke the world record all four times he ran."
Ever since, Smyth has trained in Florida-- one of his training mates is the USA's Tyson Gay. He had his sights set on competing in both the London Olympics and Paralympics, but just narrowly missed out qualifying for the Olympics.
"He was within .04 of a second, so he was really really close," Jordan said.
So how did an Irish sprinter meet a girl from Tooele, Utah?
Credit Smyth's uncles who both live in Utah County and helped him meet Elise a couple of years ago, while he was visiting Utah.
"They set us up on a date and we went miniature golfing and sort of liked each other and we went on another date," Jordan said. "Last fall he proposed to me on the beach in Florida, so it's exciting. We're getting married in December in the Salt Lake Temple."
But before the wedding bells can ring, Elise will travel to London to cheer on Smyth. The Paralympics opening ceremonies are on August 29th and two days later Smyth will compete in the 100 meter-- and the following week in the 200 meter competition.
"His best time is 10.22," Jordan said. "His best time this year is a 10.24, but a 10.22 last year in Florida is his personal best."
His fiancee says she doesn't even try to jog with Smyth or his training partners when she visits him in Florida-- she prefers to be his cheerleader.
"I would never attempt to keep up with any of them," Jordan said. "Just support. I'm good at standing in the stands and screaming and cheering and all of that. That's my job."
And when the Paralympics begin in London, she expects Smyth will give her and all of Ireland, a lot to cheer for.
