Travis Mahoney inspired by late aunt in medley swim to make Rio Games

AN emotional Travis Mahoney said he was inspired by his late aunt as he came second in the 400m individual medley to make the Rio Olympics.

WHEN 25-year-old Victorian Travis Mahoney turned for home at the Olympic swim trials in Adelaide behind Australian champion Thomas Fraser-Holmes in the most gruelling of events, the 400m individual medley, there was no way he was going to miss out on second place and a plane ticket to Rio.

Mahoney’s greatest inspiration, his aunt Sally McLellan, passed away last August after a courageous nine-year battle with cancer, but her presence was felt in every last painful stroke to the wall.

“I thought about how strong she was and how tough she was to push through the chemo and radiotherapy,” he said through tears of emotion and joy minutes after the race on Thursday night. “Her presence was what got me home.

Mahoney’s Olympic qualifying time brought the biggest cheer of the night at the South Australian Aquatic Centre as his team-mates from the Nunawading swim club leapt to their feet poolside in celebration.

Up in the stands his mother Leigh, father Brian and 31-year-old brother Hayden were equally thrilled, although, like Travis, their joy was tinged with sadness.

“I also lost my nanna on the same side so my mum lost her mum and her sister within two months,” he said. “I was so happy that I got to do it for them. This is for them. They inspired me so much through training and when it was really hard in the pool.

“My aunty is without a doubt the biggest inspiration in my life. It’s sad that she didn’t get to see this but I know she’s watching.

“She was only 52. She had a whole life ahead of her and she never gave up.”

And neither did he.

Originally published as Travis Mahoney inspired by late aunt in medley swim to make Rio Games