Human Interest |
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Ballymena & Antrim / Larne: Northern Ireland |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Golf, athletics and football. (NOC, 24 Mar 2000) |
Injuries |
In 2000 he had to withdraw through illness from Britain's European Cup team and in 2003 he had to withdraw from World Indoors due to hamstring and calf injury. (BritishAthletics.info, 14 July 2005) |
Other sports |
He trialled for English football club Darlington in 1996. (NOC, 21 Jan 2000) |
Famous relatives |
His grandfather, Sydney McIlroy, was a football player in the 1930s. (NOC, 21 Jan 2000) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He was discovered by former coach Sean Kyle in May 1997. |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete;Sales |
Languages |
English |
General Interest |
Other information |
RETIREMENT & COMEBACK He retired from the sport in April 2008, sighting a lack of funding. He returned to competition in early 2010. "I've got the love back for the sport," he said in February 2010. "I ran every day over the last two years and I also ran the New York Marathon and when I was over there, it dawned on me that I still have something left to give in the sport." (BBC, 2 Feb 2010)
FROM IRELAND TO GREAT BRITAIN In 1999 he switched his international allegiance from Ireland to Britain. (bbc.co.uk, 19 Jun 2002) |