In any normal year Jason Smyth would be well into the swing of it by now, his racing instincts fully sharpened, but in 2021 the five-time Paralympic gold medallist is hoping a slower start will mean a faster finish.

As the countdown continues to this year’s Games in Tokyo, which begin on August 24, there’s a question mark over the form of the 34-year-old, who has ruled the world in the T13 category (for partially sighted athletes) for the last 15 years.

His lack of racing so far this year has been all part of the plan.

“Everything has been geared towards trying to run fast when I need to, which is the end of August,” he says. “I’m not trying to rush or force things. I’m happy with where things are at.”

He’ll open his season in Belfast this weekend, seven weeks before the big dance in Tokyo. It may be 10 years since he ran his 100m personal best of 10.22 but Smyth’s dominance hasn’t waned. He has racked up 20 gold medals at major para athletics championships in what remains one of the most underrated careers in Irish sport.

“If the likes of that had happened for an Olympic athlete, I think it would be very different in what we know about them and the recognition,” he says. “That being said, it has improved a lot.”

In Tokyo Smyth can only chase victory in one event given the T13 200m has been dropped from the programme, but 100m gold still looks on the cards.

“That’s where the target is and will always be. I don’t really think about anything else.”

He believes his vast experience will be useful against some of the younger generation, given the strict procedures in place.

“There’s going to be a huge mental aspect to being able to prepare and keep focused and not overthink things. I’ve been continually improving and building over this last number of years and over the next two months it’s (about) fine-tuning and sharpening up. And hopefully that comes together nicely at the end of August.”