The influence of sport
An Interview with Australian Paralympic athlete Ahmed Kelly
If you followed the Paralympics in London, you may have heard of this rising Australian sports star. Ahmed Kelly, was born in 1991 with significant disabilities to all 4 limbs as a result of chemical warfare in Iraq. He lived at a Baghdad orphanage for the first 7 years of his life until Moira Kelly from the Children’s First Foundation brought him and his brother Emmanuel to Australia for medical treatment. In 2010 and 2011 he won the 100m breaststroke finals at the Australian Championships, setting a new world record on both occasions. He was subsequently chosen to represent Australia at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. We recently spoke with Ahmed about his experience of London 2012 and the impact that sport has had on his life.
In 2000 you were brought to Australia from Iraq for medical treatment by Moira Kelly from the Children’s First Foundation. What do you remember, if anything, about the first 7 years of your life prior coming to Australia? Did you have any exposure to sport during this time?
No, none at all. I didn’t have any exposure to sports at all. I loved running around as I had so much energy at the time. One of my favourite memories of Bagdad would the times when I played with my brother Emmanuel. At times I would get him into a lot of trouble by our Nuns but he always gave me that second chance. When I arrived in Australia, I had double below knee amputation surgery. This operation changed my childhood dramatically as it allowed me to use prosthetic legs and with these legs I am able to walk straighter, run, jump and all of them for a good length of time. Before, I had to rest after doing any sort of physical activity because it used to have a huge negative impact my legs.
What age did you first start playing sport and how much opportunity was there to compete in Australia? Was there much encouragement to participate and or excel?
I was around 11 years old before I was able to have a decent crack at sports. I had a go at several sports such as soccer, basketball, T Ball and Aussie Rules but I thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in Aussie rules. I had many wonderful opportunities to compete in sports. My involvement in sport really started when I attended our local school, St. Patrick’s Primary in Kilmore. It wasn’t anything serious and more focused on having fun. Once I went on to Assumption and Carey it started to get serious so I concentrated on getting better at my specific sports which were footy and swimming.
Was sport always always an integral part of your life? Was there any person or persons who were key to your development or growth in sport?
I loved my sport, so you could say that it was an integral part of my life. I was physically active just about every day whether it was training or in my own time. As soon as I finished my school work I would be out practising or trying to get fit. From the early days, my friend Ervis persevered trying to teach me how to kick the footy and I must admit that the height of Spider Burton had me in awe when we first met. Spide was a great footy mentor and one most people including myself would look up to regularly. The footy and swimming coaches definitely played a pivotal role in my sporting development and success.
When did you start competing in swimming?
After making one of my biggest sacrifices of giving footy away completely, I started the swimming career halfway through 2007.
When did you know you were going to try and reach the Paralympics in 2012 and what was your training schedule leading up to the Games?
Early in 2011, my performance at the Australian Championships earned me a spot to compete at the Para Pan Pacific’s in Edmonton with the Australian team. It was then when we were quietly confident that London was a possibility. To be able to challenge the world’s top four required a lot of hard work. With that in mind, I was training eleven times a week and approximately seventeen hours a week.
How did you feel when you first arrived in the Paralympic village in London?
It was a really special moment. After four years of hard work, I was so excited to be part of Australia’s biggest team since the Sydney Paralympic games. My aim was to soak up every minute and enjoy being around so many talented athletes.
How would you describe the experience of competing in the Paralympics and has competing in the London 2012 Games made a long-lasting impact on your life?
It’s really easy to get “caught up in the moment” but overall the experience of competing was very intense and you had to remind yourself that you’ve prepared yourself as best as you can. The Games have allowed me to make new friends and build a stronger relationship with older friends. It has also made me a stronger person and in a way, I feel that it was a great learning experience.
How would you describe the overall influence of sport in your life? For example, how much has it influenced/affected the opportunities you have had, your own well-being, self-belief, enjoyment of life, fulfilment etc.
The influence of sport has helped shape the person I am today. I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in a variety of sports but mainly Aussie Rules footy and swimming. My involvement in sports has allowed me to handle challenging situations, develop new skills and become better at my organisation skills. I am a great believer that my success doesn’t come without the extraordinary support from my family, friends and coaches!
What now? What future aspirations do you have in sport?
London Paralympic games were so amazing that it has inspired me to work hard for another round of 4 years and try out for the next games in Rio! I would also like study sports journalism and spend some quality time with friends I’ve had to unintentionally neglect due to the demand of training.