Killarney

By Sean Moriarty
<h3>An Irish sprint runner looking to secure his sixth gold medal at the Paralympic Games &#8211; is being guided by a Killarney man.</h3>
Jason Smyth, who is is legally blind, is competing in his fourth Paralympics in Japan in the 100m and 200m sprints.
However, it is Killarney Valley Athletic Club coach Tom&aacute;s Griffin &#8211; there to support Killarney&rsquo;s Jordan Lee &#8211; who was called in to support Smyth as travel restrictions limited the number of coaches Team Ireland could bring to the event.
Speaking from Team Ireland&rsquo;s training camp in Tokyo on Wednesday morning, Griffin explained his role to the Killarney Advertiser.
&ldquo;My speciality is sprinting,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I have been in touch with Jason&rsquo;s coaches from the outset. Today we are practicing his starting block procedure. He is legally blind and there are many other athletes training here so part of my job is to secure a clear lane for him. I am wearing my Killarney Valley Athletic Club top, its bright colours help him to see me and where he needs to be. There are blade-runners on the track too and I have to make sure he is aware of their presence &ndash; you do not want to collide with them.&rdquo;
He will be feeling the pressure on Sunday&nbsp;as both Smyth and Lee are in action on the Track and Field at the same time.
He is also helping Dubliner Orla Comerford who is competing in the T12 100 metre and 200 metre sprint races. She took home two bronze medals, one for each category, from the 2018 European Championships in Berlin. She competes with Stargardt disease, a hereditary condition that affects her eyesight.

Killarney coach at the heart of Paralympic Games

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