2016 Rio Paralympics: Katie Kelly teams up with Michellie Jones to win para-triathlon gold
KATIE Kelly created history as Australia’s first para-triathlon medallist while swimming stars Maddison Elliott and Lakeisha Patterson finished gold and silver.
KATIE Kelly created history as Australia’s first para-triathlon medallist, pairing with legendary ironwoman Michellie Jones to win gold in the sport’s Paralympic Games debut.
On a day that delivered two gold medals, including an Aussie one-two in the pool to teen swimming sensations Maddison Elliott and Lakeisha Patterson, Australia climbed to seventh on the medal tally with five golds, 10 silver and 12 bronze.
The country’s hopes of a top-five leaderboard finish remain alive, narrowly trailing fifth-placed host nation Brazil and sixth-ranked Uzbekistan (six golds).
And against the stunning backdrop of Copacabana Beach it was the blazing finish of Kelly and sighted guide Jones in their PT5 para-triathlon class who helped spark Australia’s resurgence after a quiet day three.
“I’m just truly honoured and chuffed, and to do that para-triathlon here at Rio is a really special moment,” said an elated Kelly, whose Usher syndrome means she has minimal hearing and tunnel-vision sight.
“To have my mum and dad here, you know what parents are like. They’ve been crying all week, so imagine what they’re like now.
“It is just so special to share it with everyone who has been along with me on the ride. It really has been Team ‘KK’.”
Kelly and Jones emerged from the opening swim leg fourth, 53 seconds behind the leading Dutch tandem.
They slashed the deficit on the bike leg, stealing a two-second lead with one lap to go.
By halfway through the two-lap run phase they had burst 33 seconds clear and had gold in their grasp.
Jones, the first Australian woman to win the brutal Hawaiian Ironman, also won Australia’s first medal – a silver – when triathlon sport debuted at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Jones, who celebrated her 47th birthday two days before the Rio opening ceremony, said pairing with Kelly in para-triathlon victory topped anything else she had achieved.
“Oh, this is better,” she said.
“This is so much better because when I think of everything that KK has been through, to be able to come here and do everything she’s done in such a short amount of time, this is the best thing I’ve ever done.
“That gold medal is such an awesome birthday present for me. But KK is such a legend. This is legendary status.”
The day was rounded out by Hunter swimmer Elliott’s breakthrough medal when she beat home Queenslander Patterson in the final of the S8 women’s freestyle.
They edged out US legend Jessica Long with a gold-silver double.
“It can be difficult racing someone like (Long),” Elliott said.
“It is pretty special to beat her. I have done it at the last two world championships but to do it at the Paralympic Games, aged just 17 years old, I am really happy.”
Originally published as 2016 Rio Paralympics: Katie Kelly teams up with Michellie Jones to win para-triathlon gold
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