As anticipation mounts for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, Belgravia Leisure is cheering for all Aussie athletes. We will, however, be keeping an extra close watch on a couple of Paralympic champions – Ahmed Kelly and Ricky Betar – who have honed their skills at our very own Belgravia Leisure managed venues.
Ahmed Kelly
Images via: Ahmed’s Facebook page.
Ahmed Kelly, a three-time Paralympian who trains at WaterMarc in Victoria will be competing in the 150m medley, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle in Paris.
Ahmed has shown incredible resilience and determination throughout his journey, from his early days in an orphanage in Baghdad to becoming a Paralympic swimming sensation where he has competed in disciplines like the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 150m individual medley and 4x50m freestyle.
Wes Hurrey, Venue Manager at WaterMarc where Ahmed trains tirelessly, expressed immense pride in his accomplishments, stating, “Ahmed’s story is truly inspirational, and we are honoured to have played a part in his journey to the Paralympics. We are eagerly cheering him on as he represents Australia in Paris.”
Ricky Betar
When Ricky Betar and his family moved to Australia from Japan, his mum Nori put him in swimming lessons at age one. He competed in his first swimming carnival at age nine, where he placed last. When he joined a squad, he couldn’t keep up for the first six months.
Now, Ricky, a lifeguard at Burpengary Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre, is set to make his mark at his second Paralympic Games and will compete in the 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke.
His passion for swimming has already earned him international recognition, with his time in the 200m individual medley ranking sixth in the world.
“From the moment I realised I could compete as a swimmer with an intellectual impairment in the Paralympics, it became my goal. Now, getting ready for my second Paralympics while working as a lifeguard, I’m excited. I feel stronger and faster than ever before,” Ricky explained.
The GOswim Contact Centre team based at Burpengary Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre has launched a GoFundMe page to enable Ricky’s mum, Nori who works on the team, to witness his achievements firsthand in Paris. Your generous contributions will enable Nori to be there, ensuring that Ricky’s momentous occasion is celebrated with the love and pride of family by his side.
- You can donate to the GoFundMe page here.
Belgravia Apparel outfits the entire Aussie Paralympic team
Images via Paralympics Australia.
Belgravia Apparel has had the honour of outfitting the entire 2024 Paralympic Team, providing athletes with high-quality competition and casual wear emblazoned with the BA logo.
Paralympics Australia’s official partner Belgravia Apparel undertook the creative and technical process to outfit the 170 qualifying athletes and 150 officials representing Australia across 18 sports at the Paris Games next month.
This involved designing and manufacturing more than 23,000 individual items, including almost 100 different competition products.
Mike Keeley, Belgravia Apparel’s National Account Manager, said, “Meeting with every athlete during the design process provided an opportunity to discuss individual impairments and for the athletes to share their specific needs.
“Our priority was to deliver comfortable, tailored garments that maximise performance, and it’s been a career highlight to support these elite athletes as they prepare for the world stage” Mike concluded.
Have you spotted our Aussie Paralympians sporting Belgravia Apparel at Woolworths? Belgravia Leisure takes pride in seeing our athletes compete on the global stage while proudly donning Belgravia Apparel.
We’re wishing all our athletes the best of luck in Paris!
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