Griffith graduate Kelly wins gold at Paralympics

Katie Kelley has won gold in the triathlon at the Rio Paralympics. Photo courtesy of Australian Paralympic Committee.

Griffith University graduate Katie Kelly has beaten a British world champion to take gold in the women’s triathlon at the 2016 Rio Paralympics this morning.

The win comes on the heels of a bronze won by alumna Carlee Beattie in the long jump last week, bringing the medal count for the eight Griffith University students and alumni competing at Rio to two.

Katie, who studied a Bachelor of Arts Leisure Management, shared the winner’s podium today with two Brits, including Alison Patrick the reigning world and European champion who won silver.

Her victory was underscored by a strong finish by the Brits, with 1.49 minutes separating the gold and bronze medalists.

Katie won with a time of 1:12:18, or a little more than a minute ahead of the world champion.

In other results over the weekend, Rowan Crothers (Bachelor of Public Relations and Communications) came second in his 50m freestyle heat on Friday night with a time of 24.49 seconds, just behind Brazilian Rodrigues Phelipe at 24.07. Rowan managed improvedin the final with a time of 24.09 seconds, and finished sixth overall.

Michael Anderson (Bachelor of Business – Sport Management graduate) came sixth in his 50m freestyle heat with a time of 26.31 and failed to progress to the finals.

However, he landed a final berth in the 100m backstroke after coming third in his heat with a time of 1:01.02. He placed sixth in the final.

Bachelor of Arts graduate Nicole Esdaile, playing in the women’s goalball, managed to hold the Ukraine to a 2-2 draw on Saturday. The team lost 12-2 to Turkey this morning. It was the goalball team’s second loss of the preliminary rounds.

Matt McShane (Bachelor of Industrial Design), playing for the Australian Rollers wheelchair basketball team, recorded a loss against Spain 75-64 last night after a solid win against the Netherlands in the first-round match.

Australia currently stands in seventh place in the overall medal count at the Paralympics with five gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze.