Michael McKillop has described his 1,500m final triumph as "the toughest race I've ever had in Paralympic sport", as he opened up about a struggle with illness that almost ruined his Rio dreams.
The 26-year-old claimed his fourth Paralympic title with a last-lap surge that left his rivals in his wake at the Olympic Stadium, but revealed that a few weeks ago he was bed-ridden and having doubts about his ability to reach his potential in Brazil.
"Just holding this gold medal is something special. It's something I've been really looking forward to and working for," the Antrim man told RTÉ Sport.
"It's been tough over the last couple of weeks but that's what sport is about - can you deal with the pressures you are put under?
"Five weeks ago I was bed-ridden. There were three or four days where I couldn't wake up I was so tired. I have a vitamin B12 deficiency and I struggle at times with that.
"But my family, my doctors and my physiotherapists, they always make sure I'm in enough shape to get the job done."
McKillop took the race lead with just under two laps to go, but it wasn't until the final 200m that he was able to shake off his nearest rival, Liam Stanley of Canada, who McKillop tipped for bright future in the sport - after the Irishman hangs up his spikes.
"It was tough out there, it was 33 degrees, the hottest I've ever run in, and I will admit, here and now, that it was the toughest race I've ever had in Paralympic sport," McKillop said.
"I was pushed to my absolute max by the young Canadian and credit to him, because he's a real inspiration to me now because I've got to keep going.
"He's 19 years of age and he's not from a running background, so he's an unbelievable talent. Sadly he'll not get a gold medal until I retire in 2020!"
"Five weeks ago I was bed-ridden. There were three or four days where I couldn't wake up I was so tired.
The success of McKillop, alongside Paralympic sprint king Jason Smyth, has raised the profile of para sports, but with a long way still to go on that front, McKillop suggested giving the duo the RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year award would represent further progress.
"The awareness of Paralympic sport has to get better, but hopefully Jason and I winning gold again, and coming off that plane hopefully we'll have more gold medals," he said.
"But knowing I have a gold medal for my country, the island of Ireland, is never something I'll get used to. It always feels better and better.
"Looking at it, maybe me and Jason could be the Sports Personality for RTÉ. Looking at other athletes, we have gold medals. That would make Paralympic sport elite in Ireland."
McKillop's next major target will be the IPC world championships in London next year, where he will defend his 800m and 1,500m titles, but before then, he would like to create a little bit of history on home soil.
"I would love to attempt a world record in the 800m at the Morton Mile next year," he said.
"If that's possible before I go to London 2017, I would to make that happen. It would be a dream come true to break a world record on Irish soil."
