Jason Smyth confirmed his status as the fastest para-athlete on the planet by winning an unprecedented 100m challenge that pitted the best sprinters from different disability classifications against each other. The Irishman, whose world record of 10.46 seconds in the T13 class for visually impaired athletes is the quickest Paralympic mark across all categories, triumphed in 10.73 seconds in the event that was part of the one year until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games celebrations on Monday (7 September).

The event alongside Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the venue for rowing and canoe at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, also featured a women’s competition, which was won by the pre-race favourite. Cuba’s Omara Durand, a visually impaired runner whose world record of 11.65 seconds makes her the fastest female para-athlete of all time, won in 11.74 seconds on Monday afternoon.

Smyth, known as the ‘Usain Bolt of the Paralympic Games’, finished ahead of the USA’s Richard Browne (100m Paralympic Games and world championships silver medallist in the T44 amputee class), who clocked 10.87 seconds. Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira (200m T47 amputee class world record holder) crossed the line 0.01 seconds behind Browne but collapsed to the ground after the race feeling pain in his leg and was taken to hospital for tests. Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon (five-time Paralympic champion and world record holder in the T38 cerebral palsy class), finished fourth in 11.09 seconds.

“It was fantastic,” said Smyth. “I am very pleased with the result and even more so because so many people came to watch. The event was very well organised and I’m sure that Rio is on the right track for next year.” 

Local favourite Terezinha Guilhermina salutes the crowd before the race (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

Durand finished ahead of Brazil’s visually impaired sprinter Terezinha Guilhermina (a winner of three Paralympic and eight world titles), who finished in 12.24 seconds, and fellow Cuban Yunidis Castillo (world record holder in the T46/47 amputee), who came home in 12.48 seconds.

“The time was good but it can always be better, and the aim is this: to improve for the Rio 2016 Games,” said Durand. “I’m very honoured to take part in this beautiful event.”

Jason Smyth confirmed his place as the fastest para-athlete in the world (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

There was also a men’s B-final to define the best sprinter in the T11 class (the highest level of visual impairment), won by the USA’s world record holder David Brown in 11.12 seconds, ahead of Brazil’s Felipe Gomes, who finished 43 hundredths of a second behind.

The races were part of a Paralympic Festival celebrating the one year to go milestone.