Aussie amputee beats disqualification farce to win medal

PARIS: Ahmed Kelly has overcome mind-blowing obstacles in his 32 years on the planet — abandonment at an Iraqi orphanage and severe limb disabilities that led to amputation — and conquered another obstacle en route to winning Paralympic silver on Monday (AEST).
Hours after being wrongly disqualified, then reinstated after a successful protest made by Swimming Australia, Kelly dived back in the pool and won a Paralympic medal for the second time in his career.
The delightful, broad-smiling swimming veteran, who has no arms below his elbows and no legs entirely, led for a while in the final of the men’s 150m medley relay SM3, before losing his lead to a fast-finishing German, Josia Tim Alexander Topf, and collecting silver.
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He then joined another treasure of Australian swimming on the podium, 35-year-old Grant “Scooter” Patterson, as his great mate had a bronze medal draped around his neck.
“I’ve had a unique journey, and you’re right, a disqualification couldn’t really throw me completely off the rails,” said Kelly, who walks around on prosthetic legs that go back on as soon as he’s out of the pool.
“I’ve gone through a lot worse and it’s just been great to represent Australia in a Paralympic final. I can never get used to it; it’s always a special thing to do.”
Grant “Scooter” Patterson (left) and Ahmed Kelly after winning medals in Paris. Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Shortly after climbing out of the pool for the first time on day four of competition, Kelly was hit with the gutting news that he’d been disqualified for, supposedly, performing butterfly instead of freestyle in his final leg.
But his disqualification was overturned about 45 minutes later, paving the way for him to win silver at consecutive Paralympic Games.
“Once the decision was overturned it was all forward-focused for that final tonight [Paris time],” Kelly smiled.
“It definitely did not impact that race at all. I gave it everything I had and tried to execute the race plan as best I could.”
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Given the remarkable positivity with which Kelly navigates a way of life lived by few other of the world’s 7.9 billion people, there was never any doubt about how he’d tackle the disqualification saga.
In 1998, an Australian woman called Moira Kelly was in Baghdad as a humanitarian worker when she discovered in Iraq’s capital Kelly and his brother, Emmanuel, who spent the first seven years of their lives in an orphanage.
Moira adopted the boys and gifted them a new and beautiful life in the Victorian town of Kilmore, situated about 65 kilometres north of Melbourne.
Getting the boys out of Iraq presented an obstacle in itself — to avoid Iraqi authorities, Moira scurried away with them secretly to an airport in Jordan.
Kelly and his brother Emmanuel were both born with severely disabled limbs, just like many others born in areas marred by chemical warfare.
Kelly said it was “great to have Scoot” on the podium with him in Paris.
“It’s a very special moment, and we’ll really cherish this moment,” Kelly said.
Both men made their Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Games and have since been constant sources of positivity and inspiration on the Dolphins team.
Ahmed Kelly ready to race in France. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
As Kelly chatted with reporters in the media mixed zone at the Paris La Defense Arena, “Scooter” sat on his scooter a couple of metres away, waiting to chew the fat with reporters himself.
While he’s short in stature, he’s a larger-than-life character.
“I’m 35 now. One of the oldest on the team,” he said.
“I keep making the joke that I’m a dinosaur, and I sing the Jurassic Park theme song whenever it’s on,” he added, drawing smiles and laughter from the journalists gathered around.
“But to do that [win bronze], and also with my dwarfism [or] diastrophic dysplasia — I don’t know of anyone like me around the world that does this.”
Grant “Scooter” Patterson zipping across the pool deck, in the company of teammate Holly Warn. Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Patterson’s disability means his eye level is at the hip level of most people. His arms and legs are short and thick, and he has joint problems that restrict mobility.
A marvellous product of Cairns in Queensland’s north, he won his third Paralympic medal at the Paris Games, following silver and bronze medals captured in Tokyo three years ago.
“I’m wanting to keep pursuing these dreams and goals,” Patterson added, “to try and inspire and motivate someone else like me to come out and do it, maybe at Brisbane 2032.”
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