McKillop wins 800m gold for Ireland

PAUL GALLAGHER
PARALYMPICS : Irish teenage Paralympian Micheal McKillop sensationally set a new world record on his way to winning gold in the men's 800m (T37 class) at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing today. The Antrim athlete's time of 1:59.39 shaved a massive 2.74seconds off his own previous record set at the 2006 World Championships.
McKillop, who is coached by his father Paddy, left the field in his wake after 200metres and never looked back as he secured gold on his Paralympics debut.
"Unbelievable. I knew I was going to be the best and I was the best. It's a dream come true," McKillop told RTE afterwards. "I cruised home and I had a lot more in me. It's just great to be Paralympic champion once and I can't wait till London."
Already the tributes were coming in for McKillop, including a message of congratulations from President McAleese.
"I extend my warmest congratulations to Michael on his emphatic victory today in the men's 800m final in Beijing," she said. "Michael's determination, tenacity and talent have been rewarded with this richly-deserved gold medal and we applaud his family, friends and followers who have supported him throughout.
"This is an outstanding achievement for such a young man, a triumph which the whole country has witnessed with great pride and joy.'
Elsewhere there were mixed fortunes for the Irish athletes in action on day four Games.
The mixed boccia team (BC1-2) comprising yesterday's bronze medal winner Gabriel Shelly, Roberta Connolly, Pádraic Moran and Tom Leahy advanced from Pool C to the quarter-finals along with Spain.
In their opening match Ireland defeated Finland 7-3 before losing heavily (12-1) to pool winners Spain. However the Irish quartet still did enough for a place in the last eight where they will meet home favourites China tomorrow.
Eilish Byrne finished fifth in today's equestrian freestyle grade II event with a points tally of 66.110 on board her horse Youri. American Rebecca hart won on Noteassa with 65.833.
At the velodrome Michael Delaney and sighted pilot rider David Peelo finished sixth in the men's sprint qualification B&VI (1-3) to qualify for the quarter-finals where they lost to South Africa's Gavin Kilpatrick and Michael Thomson.
After progressing through the archery ranking round, Sean Heary booked his place in the last eight of the men's in individual compound with a 108-104 win over Germany's Michael Arenz.
Ireland were totally outplayed and lost 7-0 to Ukraine in their group B match of the men's seven-a-side football match in front of a crowd of 6,763 at the Olympic Green Hockey Field.
At the Water Cube David Malone missed out on a place in the final of the men's 100metres backstroke (S8) when he finished fifth in heat two in a time of 1:16.80 to be 10th overall. After the race, the Sydney 2000 gold medal winner plus silver medallist in Atlanta and Athens, announced his retirement.