Para-triathlete wins gold in Rio, giving her guide the best birthday ever
Paralympian Katie Kelly claimed a gold medal for Australia at Rio, alongside her guide, fellow medal-winning Olympian, Michellie Jones.
Para-triathlete Kelly lives with Usher syndrome, meaning that she suffers from minimal hearing and low vision and as such, she competes with a partner -- and Jones was with Kelly every step, stroke and pedal of the way.
A victorious Kelly claimed gold in one hour, 12 minutes and 18 seconds across a swim of 750 metres (820 yards), cycling at 22.28km (13.8 miles) and 5 kilometre (3.1 mile) run.
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Speaking with media after the race, an ecstatic Kelly said "I was saying to Michellie that it's something that you wish for, but these triathlon competitions I never take it for granted and it's hard work out there. You can't underestimate how hard it is to get there. I'm just really honoured and chuffed, and to do that in para-triathlon here in Rio is a really special moment," Kelly said.
In a light-hearted comment on the win, which shows just how close the duo have become, Jones added "I didn't make her puke today, so that was good."
It was also Michellie Jones' birthday when the pair won gold. Jones said "This is the best birthday present, thanks KK! We don't have a cake, but the gold medal will do just fine ... I'm just so happy that I got to be part of her ride."
The gold medal winner's parting words, post-win? "Disability doesn't define you," she told AAP. "It's what you do with it that does."
Topics Olympics
