Ahmed Kelly – also known as ‘Liquid Nails’ – first represented Australia in 2009 at the Oceania Paralympic Championships. Born in Iraq with a double arm and leg deficiency, he was adopted and moved to Australia in 2000 and became an Australian citizen in 2009.

He has competed at four consecutive Paralympic Games, as well as both national and world championships. Kelly’s debut Games was London 2012 but he didn’t win his first Paralympic medal until Tokyo.

In Tokyo, Kelly won silver in the Men’s 150m Individual Medley (SM3), alongside teammate and good pal, Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson who won bronze.

At the 2019 and 2023 World Para Swimming Championships, Kelly won a silver and gold medal in the Men’s 150m Individual Medley (SM3) respectively.

Most recently in Paris, Kelly won his second silver Paralympic medal in his pet event – the Men’s 150m medley SM3, 2 seconds behind gold medallist Josia Topf from Germany.

CLASSIFICATIONS: S3, SM3, SB3