Michael McKillop Athlete
Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena) is an Irish athlete who has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships, clocking just over 2:02. and he represented Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, winning a gold medal at the T37 800 m clipping almost three seconds off his previous mark as he strode to an emphatic win in 1:59.39. His time was a Paralympic record. McKillop won the 800 m title at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in world-record time of 1:58.90, he also set a 1500 m world record but was not awarded a medal because of the lack of entries. He is coached by his father Paddy, who was awarded Northern Ireland Sports Coach of the Year. McKillop has a personal best of 1:57.3.