Ahmed Kelly made his Paralympic debut in 2012, but he earned his sporting nickname of “liquid nails” long before that.
Prior to becoming a four-time Paralympian, Ahmed lived in an orphanage in Baghdad, Iraq, with his brother Emmanuel. Both were born with severely underdeveloped arms and legs, not uncommon in countries torn by chemical warfare.
The brothers were adopted and brought to Australia in 1998 by humanitarian worker, Moira Kelly. After returning with her to Australia, Ahmed had surgery to remove both his legs below the knees. It was then that he discovered his first love – Aussie Rules – which continues to be a passion to this day (along with aviation, listening to music and, in Ahmed’s own words, “being a general pest.”)
He quickly earned the nickname ‘Nails’ for his tough-as-nails style of play. It eventually became Liquid Nails as Ahmed’s horizons broadened and he discovered Para-swimming.
Cheered on the whole way by his family, Ahmed made his Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He credits his selection for London as an absolute highlight of his career.
It would take another Paralympic Games and World Championships before Ahmed took the next leap in his career. At the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships, under the tutelage of coaching great Yuriy Vdovychenko, he won his first major international medal, silver in the men’s 150m individual medley SM3.
Ahmed followed this up at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with a silver medal in the men’s 150m individual medley SM3, finishing with a time of 3:02.23, just behind Mexico’s Jesus Hernandez Hernandez.
The success of Australia’s “liquid nails” flowed into the Paris 2024 Paralympic games, where Ahmed’s resilience and professionalism shone. For many athletes, the added pressure and stress of an overturned disqualification may have caused them to buckle. But Ahmed pulled through to again win silver in the 150m individual medley SM3. He shared the dais with his great mate Grant Patterson, who took bronze.
In September 2025, Ahmed won silver in the 150m medley SM3 at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. Now a seasoned athlete, Ahmed emphasises the importance of giving it your all.
“The pressure is on, the intensity is up and the more you do it, the better you become,” he said.
Ahmed has his sights set firmly on LA 2028.
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