Swimmer Ahmed Kelly has drawn praise from Greg Hartung, President of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), after closing in on his ambition of competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games for his adopted country.
The 20-year-old (pictured) was born in Iraq with significant deficiencies in all four limbs and was spent the majority of the first seven years of his life at a Baghdad orphanage.
However, in 1998 he met Moira Kelly, from the Children's First Foundation, who adopted Ahmed and brother Emmanuel – also born with limb deficiencies – and took them to Australia for medical treatment.
After undergoing surgery to remove the deformed sections of his lower legs, Ahmed learned to walk with the use of prostheses and, before long, began to run.
He subsequently turned his attention to swimming in 2008 and aside from being one of Australia's biggest medal prospects at London 2012 is now among the favourites for gold in his events.
During his quest for victory this summer, Ahmed will have two special supporters cheering him on: his adopted sisters, Trishna and Krishna.
The conjoined twins were separated during more than 27 hours of surgery in 2009 and Ahmed says the support of his sisters always pushes him forward a couple of metres in every race.
Hartung, also vice-president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), believes Ahmed should serve as an inspiration to all who see him compete.
"For swimmer Ahmed Kelly, the road to London has been a particularly long one," said Hartung.
"After years of operations, rehabilitation and adapting to a new country, he is now the 100 metres breaststroke world record holder in his class and has London firmly in his sights.
"Ahmed's ambition and perseverance against the odds resonates with all who hear his story.
"Like all our athletes, his readiness to take on the world in Australian colours is inspiring and something I know all Australians will embrace."
Since competing at his first international competition, the 2009 Oceania Paralympic Championships in Darwin, Ahmed has gone on to claim back-to-back 100m breaststroke crowns at the Australian Championships in 2010 and 2011, with both victories being recorded in world record time.
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