Published Monday, 03 September 2012
Michael McKillop came first in the T37 1500m. (© Getty)
The 22-year-old from Glengormley clinched the T37 1500m title in four minutes 8.11 seconds.
McKillop, who has cerebral palsy, set a new Paralympic record and was more than six seconds ahead of Australia's Brad Scott, who took second place.
Coming into the race, he had a season's best of more than 20 seconds faster than his closest rival.
McKillop broke his own record during the 800m final on Saturday and brings Team Ireland's gold medal tally to five - including Eglinton sprinter Jason Smyth's win in the T13 100m and Bethany Firth, from Seaforde, who took gold in the 100m backstroke S14.
The winner said the 1500m is his preferred event, and added it was very hard to win both.
"But with all the training I have done, I've put in the hard work for months and years and to stand on the starting line and race in the 800m and 1500m in a class that I'm at the top of is an honour. Getting the chance tonight to do it was unbelievable."
The Newtownabbey man spoke of his parents' support, and thanked his father and coach, Paddy.
"Because he's my dad he had the shock of his kid being diagnosed with cerebral palsy and him and my mum have got me to where I am today," he said.
"They went to find the best specialists, the best physios, so they've got me to the starting line so I owe it all to them."
He also paid tribute to his team-mates, in particular fellow gold medallist Jason Smyth.
"He's been there, done that; he trains with Tyson Gay," said McKillop. "He's my team-mate and best friend. He's been there to calm me down whenever I've needed to be calmed down, when I worry about things."
"I'm more of a thinker than he is, I think things up to be bigger than they actually are and he always told me I'm the best of the field and that if I just kept at it that I would win.
"So I believed in him and I believed in everything my dad said as well."
First Minister Peter Robinson congratulated the athletes on their victories.
"Their commitment and determination to succeed is something of which they can be really proud and the performance of our paralympians can give hope to everyone," he said.
"The efforts of all our competitors are to be really admired - they have overcome great personal difficulties but have at all times shown a great willingness to succeed. We are all very proud of them and we wish all of them every success for the remainder of the Games," added deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.