Mateusz Michalski

Mateusz Michalski (born 29 August 1987) is a visually impaired sprinter from Poland. He competed at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympics and won a gold in the 200 metres and a silver in the 100 metres in 2012. His time of 21.56 s in the 200 m set a new world record.

Career history Michalski was born in Września, Poland in 1987. He is visually impaired, and describes his vision as being about ten percent. He took up athletics at the age of 16, after a coach at his school introduced him to the sport. In the 200m he was placed into qualifier Heat 3 alongside Trikoli. In the heat he recorded a season's best of 22.13 to go through to the semi-finals in first place. Trikoli also qualified after recording a personal best, going through to the semis as one of the fastest losers. The two rivals met again in the semifinals in heat 2. Michalski recorded another season's beat with an improved time of 22.09, but this was not enough to beat Trikoli who produced another personal best to finish in 21.94. Michalski's time saw him qualify through to the final in the only fastest loser's position at the expense of Yang Yuqing of China, who recorded a time of 22.30 in the first heat. The final, held on 8 September, saw Michalski run the 200m in a time of 21.56 setting a new world record, leaving Trikoli with the silver.

His achievements in London saw Michalski named Disabled Athlete of the year at the 2013 Polish Sportspersonality of the Year on 11 January.

Awards and honours He received the Cross of Merit from the president of Poland in 2013.