KATIE KELLY OAM PLY:"It's important for athletes to find their passion outside sport"
- Sally Phillips
- Mar 19
- 4 min read
When we first met Katie Kelly OAM PLY in May 2024, it was clear that she epitomised everything about AFHA's vision: ‘Every Australian athlete has a sense of purpose and connection through community contribution’. As an AFHA Athlete Speaker at our workshops, and as an athlete panellist at our webinar with Invictus Australia in Veterans Health Week 2024, Katie continues to inspire other athletes in the AFHA Community to give back with impact, in ways that align with their strengths, interests and passions. In this Athlete Spotlight, we learn more about her own Sport Access Foundation, her extensive advocacy and charity work, and how Katie has created meaningful change well beyond her sporting success for the causes, charities and communities that matter most to her.
Born in Casino, a town in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Katie is a legend of Australian para-triathlon. A two-time Paralympian, two-time World Champion and a disability and LGBTQIA+ advocate, Katie was born with profound hearing loss that would go undiagnosed for many years. At the age of 22 Katie started to lose her sight, leading to a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder that is a leading cause of deaf-blindness.
Not being one to let the ableist world prevent her from navigating her own pathway, it was only a matter of weeks after being confirmed legally blind that she transitioned to para-triathlon as an AIS funded athlete. Later that year (2015) Katie would win the World Triathlon Championship in Chicago with her guide, Olympic silver medallist Michellie Jones AM OLY.
Together, Katie and Michellie would dominate the World Triathlon Vision Impaired class and be the first Australians to win a gold medal at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, where the sport made its Paralympic debut. Following that performance, in 2017 Katie would win gold again at her second World Championship event in Rotterdam, followed up by her second Paralympic Games appearance in Tokyo in 2020.
Many more medals and awards came Katie’s way including Deaf Sports Australia Athlete of the Year in 2016, Order of Australia medal in 2017, Queensland Para-Triathlete of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and induction into the Grifith University and AusTriathlon Hall’s of Fame in 2024. Throughout her career, Katie competed in 23 World Triathlon events, that culminated in 17 wins and 19 podium finishes, with AusTriathlon referring to Katie’s rise in the sport as “meteoric.”
Passionate about diversity and inclusion in Australian communities, work, and sport and through her own journey of living with Usher Syndrome, Katie’s influence now extends far beyond her phenomenal athletic success. Always seeking opportunities to empower and encourage the community to advocate for those with diverse needs, in 2017 Katie established the Sport Access Foundation. The foundation provides grants for young Australians living with a disability to improve their access to sport:
"By creating opportunities in our communities for people living with disability to be included, we open ourselves to new experiences and challenge our perceptions of what it means to live with disability,” said Katie.
Katie is also an in-demand motivational speaker, sharing her experiences of overcoming challenges and emphasising the importance of inclusion in all areas of life. Her advocacy also extends to raising awareness about Usher Syndrome and pushing for greater support and research into the condition, as well as roles as a Non-Executive Director for Achieve Australia, an Industry Fellow with Griffith University’s Re-Imaging Disability Council, co-founder of the Casino Fun Run, Ambassador for the Australian Sport Alliance of People with Disability and a co-Patron of the 2024 Australian Deaf Games.
As Co-Founder of the Casino Fun Run, Katie’s passion for inclusion at the grassroots and participation level has led to the event being more inclusive by creating an accessible course, an all-abilities race category, and connecting with First Nations communities, which includes the appointment of a First Nations Bundjalung women, Eileen Byers as Ambassador. Katie’s efforts reflect her ongoing commitment to fostering community involvement and promoting inclusivity in country and rural towns.
Katie joined the AFHA team in 2024 and hosted the organisations' inaugural Impact Beyond event. As an elite athlete who has first-hand experience of what it’s like to have a platform to be able to make a difference, Katie said:
“Organisations like Athletes for Hope Australia have a really important role to play in providing athletes with the opportunity to reflect on their privilege, and how they can give back to causes that matter to them. It’s important for athletes to find their passion outside of sport, not only for the role we all play in achieving equity, but importantly, being grounded in knowing that nothing is given to us - we have to earn and give back.”
More recently, Katie has embarked on a mission with Blind Cricket. What started as a participation pathway, Katie now finds herself on the verge of being selected to the Australian Women’s Blind Cricket team who will compete in a first of its kind international test cricket series against Pakistan in 2025 (we wish Katie all the best)!
Katie remains an inspiration and mentor to the next generation of para-athletes who dream of competing on the world stage, and her story is one of perseverance and dedication, not only in her sporting achievements but in her personal commitment to fostering a more inclusive society. Her efforts continue to inspire and create opportunities for others, embodying the true spirit of a Paralympic champion.
Written by Sally Phillips, Guest Writer & Director at AFHA
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