Paralympics: From Iraq to London, Ahmed Kelly aims for gold

10 Jul 2012, 12:48 pm   -   Source: Glenn Osbourne, SBS
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For every athlete, going to the Olympic Games is an amazing achievement, but perhaps the most astonishing is that of swimmer Ahmed Kelly.

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For every athlete, going to the Olympic Games is an amazing achievement, but perhaps the most astonishing is that of swimmer Ahmed Kelly.

Ahmed was born in Iraq with severely deformed arms and legs, believed to be from his parents being exposed to chemical weapons.

Ahmed and his brother Emmanuel were raised by the nuns of the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad.

Emmanuelle had been dumped in a box on a street, and Ahmed on the front door of the orphanage.

Both were born with severely underdeveloped limbs.

They were found by Moira Kelly, a Melbourne humanitarian worker, and brought to Australia in 2000 where they had life-changing surgery.

With his new prosthetic limbs, Ahmed played Australian Rules for his school and local club, but when that became too physically taxing, he decided, against his instincts, to take up swimming.

"When I came to Australia for the very first time, I had a taste of what a pool was, but I was absolutely petrified of the pool, I was screaming, but of course everyone who comes to Australia has to learn to swim and do their swimming lessons, but it took at least two years to do all the swimming lessons." Ahmed Kelly said.

 

2012 Paralympics , Ahmed Kelly , London 2012

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Your Comments

Ms

Lrae Tawse - from Brisbane, 9 months ago

Ahmed, you are an incredible inspiration. You have faced so much adversity that would destroy so many other people and yet you have, through determination, incredible hard work, and, I am certain, pain, gone on to achieve your dreams. Your smile last night when you came in fourth in the world in your swimming event was a joy to watch. Thank you for showing us what courage and determination can achieve and for inspiring us to achieve our dreams.

REAL LEGEND

mark - from moonta, 11 months ago

good luck Ahmed. Hope you win a medal and if you dont you are still a legend.

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