Alumni Award 2026: Ahmed Kelly

Born amid war, with four severely underdeveloped limbs following exposure to chemical weapons, few could have predicted Ahmed would one day become a four-time Paralympian and active advocate for inclusion in sports.

“I was originally born in Baghdad, Iraq, at a Mother Teresa orphanage,” recalls Ahmed. “The nuns there were incredible, looking after lots of kids who had lots of different disabilities. I was one of them and also my brother Emmanuel.”

At nine-years-old, Ahmed’s trajectory changed forever when Australian humanitarian Moira Kelly & her charity Children First Foundation brought him and Emmanuel to Australia for life-changing medical care.

“I was one of those very lucky to come to Australia to have surgery,” he says, remembering the enormity of that transition. “There was a bit of a waiting period for my surgery, and in that time I went to school and learned to read and write for the first time.”

After his surgery came another steep learning curve — walking with prosthetics.

“Once I was able to walk like everyone else without any issues, I was able to go to school, then join all the different sports I couldn’t previously. I really enjoyed that.”

Making waves on the world stage

A school AFL match sparked a competitive fire in Ahmed, but it was at a clinic run by the Australian Paralympic Committee where he finally found his lane.

While he excelled across multiple sports, he saw particular promise in the pool. “Never did I think I was going to be swimming, but I also could see I could grow in that sport.”

The growth was extraordinary. Ahmed went on to represent Australia at four consecutive Paralympic Games, debuting at the London 2012 Summer Paralympics.

At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics, Ahmed first placed on the podium — claiming silver in the Men’s 150m Individual Medley (SM3) — and repeated the feat at Paris 2024. In between these victories, he earned silver (2019) and gold (2023) at the World Para Swimming Championships.

Yet alongside his many sporting achievements, Ahmed consistently prioritised education. “Yes, I was an elite athlete, but Paralympic sport doesn't pay full time and I wanted to be able to make sure that I set my life up really well.”

Hear from Ahmed

Excellence, in and out of the water

Following Year 12, Ahmed enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University, majoring in journalism. He also participated in La Trobe’s Elite Athlete Program (LEAP), which helps to identify, promote and support the needs of elite athletes studying at university.

Balancing study with 10 to 11 training sessions a week was relentless. “I was almost ready to give up on uni altogether,” he recounts.

Thankfully, his trademark perseverance finally paid off. “It took me 8 or 9 years to get through university. My goal was to finish before the Tokyo Games.”

Ahmed credits much of his success to a dedicated support network. “I've been so fortunate to have so many incredible role models,” he says. “At times when I'm stuck, I'm always able to give them a call and get their advice.”

Today, Ahmed is a full-time Paralympic athlete, change analyst at Telstra, motivational speaker and passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion in sports.

Even with a fifth Paralympics now in his sights, he still finds time to connect with his alma mater, recently returning as a panelist at the Blues Sport Awards to honour La Trobe athletes and inspire rising talent.

“I try to really be a role model for the next generation of athletes and support them through the challenges they face,” says Ahmed. “The advice I give them is to not give up, to have a plan and to be organised.”

Ahmed completed a Bachelor of Arts (2021) at La Trobe University, Bundoora.