Parksville's Michelle Stilwell set a world record in the women's wheelchair T52 classification 800-metres Thursday at the International Paralympic Committee world championships.
Canada Press reports that Stillwell — elected as the Parksville-Qualicum MLA in May — won the race in two minutes 14.79 seconds, eclipsing the previous world record of 2:16.71 set in 2005 by Canadian Lisa Franks.
"I couldn't have dreamt better, a world record and a gold medal," Stilwell told CP. "This is a very good start to the day for Canada."
Stilwell — a multiple medal winner at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics and multiple world record holder — won a another gold medal in the 200m and a silver in the 100m race at the London Paralympics.
Ilana Dupont of Clarenceville, Que., won bronze in the T53 wheelchair 100-metres crossing the finish line in 18.22 seconds. Lisha Huang of China won the race in 17.09 while Angela Ballard of Australia took silver in 17.64.
Canada has won nine medals (three gold, four silver, two bronze) so far at the event.