Remembering a SA Paralympic champion: Kieran Modra’s family reflect on star as Tokyo event airs

Kieran Modra’s widow Kerry is sure her husband would have come out of retirement for the 2021 Paralympics. But she takes solace in how his legend has been embraced.

For the family of SA Paralympic champion Kieran Modra, watching the Tokyo Games is bittersweet.

The five-time Paralympic gold medallist and father of three was tragically killed, aged 47, when he was struck by a car during a training ride north of Adelaide in November 2019.

His widow, Kerry, said she suspected Modra would have come out of self-imposed retirement to compete again at Tokyo, which would have been his ninth Games.

“Kieran retired many times … I wouldn’t have been surprised if he tried to make a comeback (especially with the event pushed back a year by Covid-19); he struggled to keep himself away,” she said.

Born with only 15 per cent vision due to optic atrophy, Modra competed as a swimmer and tandem cyclist in a remarkable eight Paralympic Games between 1988 and 2016, winning five bronze medals in addition to his haul of gold.

Kieran Modra dressed in his Paralympic cycling kit. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

He also claimed two silver medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Kerry, who competed in Atlanta and Sydney as his cycling pilot, said watching this year’s Games with the couple’s daughters – Holly, 20, Makala, 18, and Janae, 16 – stirred mixed emotions.

“It is something we are used to seeing him involved in and it brings back lots of good memories … but it is also quite challenging to sit there and watch without him,” she said.

“(The girls and I) always said we couldn’t wait for the day he was sitting here on the couch with us watching … (it’s hard) knowing those times are never going to come and that we won’t again get to hear his stories or watch the joy on his face when he talks about his races.

“(The heartache) ebbs and flows; you have your ups and downs … there are lots of times when memories come back, like now – some days we can feel OK and other days you hit rock bottom again.”

Modra and his girls back in 2016. Picture: Mark Brake

Modra, at 40, with his pilot Scott McPhee during training for the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Adelaide Super-Drome. File picture.

Kerry said the family was moved to learn the Australian cycling team had each been given badges for their uniforms ahead of Tokyo that read: Kieran Modra 1972-2019 ‘Go for it’.

“It was such a beautiful thing for them to do, to honour his memory … it feels like he is still part of the Games, (that he is) still out at the track in spirit – he inspired so many people to just have a go,” she said.

“It is just wonderful to know his legacy will live on and that he has made a difference to so many people, especially people with disabilities.”

Kerry said she continued to find solace in her girls during dark days.

“They all have certain traits of his … I look at them every day and I can see him in them,” she said.

“Holly is very resilient like he was and very determined to get on with life. Janae has his sense of humour and his ability to see the good in things.

“Makala is very creative like Kieran … she has started tatting (making doilies) like he used to whenever he went away, while he was sitting in an airport for hours.

“I know he would be so proud in what they are each doing.”

As for Kerry, it is her beloved husband’s smile and “positive energy” she misses the most.

“We really miss that energy … he was always eager to get out and start the day and see what the day would bring,” she said.