Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena

Ballymena

Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....

) is an Irish athlete who has a mild form of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....

.

He won the 800m title at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships

IPC Athletics World Championships

The IPC Athletics World Championships is an event organized by the International Paralympic Committee . Athletes with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete...

, clocking just over 2:02. and he represented Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Ireland competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. Ireland sent 45 athletes, competing in 9 sports. The country's flagbearer at the Games' opening ceremony was Patrice Dockery.-Medallists:-Athletics:...

, winning a gold medal at the T37 800m 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 800m title at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships

2011 IPC Athletics World Championships

The 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships was held in Christchurch, New Zealand from January 21 to 30, 2011. Athletes with a disability competed, and the Championships was a qualifying event for the London 2012 Paralympic Games....

in world-record time of 1:58.90, he also set a 1500m 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.