Paul Pollock represented Ireland in the men’s marathon at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. At Rio 2016 he finished 32nd in a time of 2:16:24, the first Irishman home ahead of teammates Kevin Seaward and Mick Clohisey, and the third-fastest finishing position ever recorded by an Irish runner at an Olympic marathon. At Tokyo 2020 he finished 71st in a time of 2:27:48.

Pollock first competed at major championship level in 2004 when he represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo, Australia, finishing fourth in the 1,500 metres. He won the Irish national marathon title on his marathon debut in Dublin in 2012. He holds a personal best of 2:10:25 and was one of only three European athletes selected as inaugural members of the elite professional NN Running Team, alongside Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele. Throughout his athletics career Pollock has worked as an emergency medicine doctor.