Smyth, the fastest Paralympian on the planet, won gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics in both the 100 metre and 200m events - setting world records in both.

The 24-year-old Irishman made history again last year when he became the first Paralympian to compete in the European Championships in Barcelona, reaching the 100m semi-finals.

"Jason is on fire at the moment," Pistorius told www.paralympicsport.tv, the International Paralympic Committee's online TV channel.

"He's on 10.22 and has to get down to 10.18.

"He's an unbelievably dedicated athlete.

"I follow him quite a lot and although we haven't met, he's definitely someone I respect."


Pistorius also had praise for the US's T44 athlete Jerome Singleton (pictured), who became the first man to beat him in seven years when he took the 100m world title in Christchurch earlier this year.

"Jerome had a phenomenal race at the worlds and he was the better athlete on the day," said the 24-year-old.

"Jerome is definitely going to have to get into training really hard and step it up a little bit for next year."

Pistorius ran 11.04 in May in response, the fastest time in the event for four years, and also took gold in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay in New Zealand.

He is now looking forward to the London 2012 Games, where he hopes to add to his medal haul and could potentially run alongside able-bodied athletes after clocking an Olympic qualifying time last month in Lignano, Italy.

"To be able to run an event where we combine the team aspect kind of gives you a bit of excitement," he said.

"I really lack that team aspect and that feeling I had when I was growing up.

"I think with a bit of practice leading up to next year, the 4x100m is definitely something that we're going to launch with a big bang.

"I think that's one South Africa can walk away with a gold in."

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