Cairns Paralympic swimmer Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson wins Bronze in the men’s 150m medley relay SM3

In a nailbiting race, Cairns swimmer Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson has secured a medal in the men’s 150m medley relay SM3 at the Paris Paralympic Games.

NANTERRE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 01: Silver medallist, Ahmed Kelly and Bronze medallist, Grant Patterson of Team Australia pose for a photo with their medals during the Men's 150m Individual Medley – SM3 on day four of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Paris La Defense Arena on September 01, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

In a nailbiting race, Cairns swimmer Grant “Scooter” Patterson secured a medal on Monday (AEST) in the men’s 150m medley relay SM3 at the Paris Paralympics.

Mr Patterson rounded out the podium with a third-place finish, just moments behind 32-year-old Ahmed Kelly from Victoria, who claimed silver in the medley.

Topping off the podium was Germany’s Josia Tim Alexander Topf, who claimed the gold.

Patterson, who rode into the arena on the trademark scooter from which he gets his nickname, said he was content with his bronze medal.

“It’s a repeat from three years ago and with Ahmed, too, so it’s pretty special to have your mate up there,” he said.

Grant "Scooter" Patterson qualified for the Australian Paralympic Swimming Team trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre back in June, ahead of the Paralympics Games Paris 2024. Picture: Brendan Radke

The two Australian Paralympians and friends were grinning from ear to ear on the podium as they wore their silver and bronze medals with pride.

“I’m 35 now, one of the oldest on the team. I call myself the Dinosaur from Jurassic Park but to do that, with my dwarfism dysplasia, I don’t know of any like me around the world that do this,” Mr Patterson said.

Scooter’s brother Mitchell Patterson spoke to the Cairns Post about the latest win and how the family was feeling back in Far North Queensland, watching him compete in Paris.

“It wasn’t necessarily a surprise as he won this same medal at the Tokyo games, but it’s definitely good to get the same result and I’m sure he’s ecstatic,” Mr Patterson said.

“With the time difference between Paris and Australia, we haven’t really had a chance to speak yet, we’ve only exchanged one message and he was heading off the bed.”

“I’m just wanting to keep pursuing these dreams and goals to try to inspire and motivate someone else like me to come out and do it,” Patterson said.

Describing his 35-year-old brother as a true “inspiration”, Mr Patterson said what “Scooter” has achieved was “astounding”.

“It does put your life into perspective,” he said.

“He’s a true inspiration.

“Things are hard in life without a disability but what he’s been able to do while having a severe physical disability, is just astounding, and what he’s still about to achieve because he’s not finished yet.”

However, Mr Patterson said his brother “Scooter” was feeling confident about his upcoming race in the men’s 50m breaststroke.

“Look I think he’s feeling good and feels like he’s in a good position to get another medal, hopefully, whether it be the gold or the silver or another bronze, we don’t know yet,” he said.

“We shall see.”

The lead-up to the finals was tense, with Kelly incorrectly disqualified in the heats because an official mistook his freestyle for butterfly, which is banned under the rules of their 150 medley event.

However, Kelly was reinstated after lodging an appeal and made the most of his second chance, going on to win silver in the final.

Scooter has previously said swimming brought him a sense of self worth and purpose and while he missed out on the Rio games, it gave him “monstrous amounts” of resilience.

“I’ve learned over the many years I’ve been swimming that it’s about being a part of the Australian team, doing your best,” he said.

“This medals business, that’s just icing on the cake.”

Originally published as Cairns Paralympic swimmer Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson wins Bronze in the men’s 150m medley relay SM3