About Kelly
She went into it thinking it was just another road race, but the last 200 meters proved to her that it was far from it. It could have been any part of her body that failed as she neared the finish line of that grueling event that forced her up inclines that went from 500 to 900 feet above sea level. She could have twisted an ankle, pulled a hamstring or tripped over a loose rock, but it was none of these. For a moment, as she picked herself up off the ground, Kelly had no idea what had caused her to fall. That was, at least, not until she stepped down on her running prosthesis only to find that it wasn't there...Physically the leg was still attached to her own, but the carbon fiber foot had twisted around a titanium bolt that fastened it on to the socket. For all intents and purposes, Kelly had no leg to run with and yet that was not even close to enough to stop her from finishing. Carrying her artificial leg in one hand she hopped the distance to the finish line to complete her first 8 mile trail run.
In that event Kelly pushed herself because that's what she does. For her it is a not about being recognized for her leg, or for what she can do despite missing one of her legs. It has always been about holding herself to the same standard as everyone else and competing against the other athletes in her age group. For Kelly it is more than just getting out there and playing the sport. She wants to excel and exceed expectations; even her own. She wants to push the limits. Anyone can play, not everyone can compete. And she wants to compete to the best of her ability. Kelly has always understood what it is like to be different, but that has never stopped her from fitting in. But today it's more than fitting in. It's about standing out; standing out based on her merits, not her leg. And it's about meeting the standards set by able-body athletes. She trains as hard and works as hard as any other athlete, and her times prove it.
Kelly is a 25 year old triathlete and distance runner. She is also a below knee amputee, having lost her leg to a congenital defect when she was 6 months old. She was fit with her first prosthesis at the age of nine months and was walking by the time she was 13 months old. Running came just as naturally as walking so it is little wonder that by middle school Kelly was ready to show the world what she could do. By eighth grade Kelly was racing with the United States Disabled Sports Team at national and international track and field events, competing in races ranging from the 100-meter to the 800-meter. In 2002 Kelly held 2 world records in her disability classification in track and was also a top runner on her high school varsity cross country team. When Kelly entered her freshman year at Duke University, she continued to train by running with her school’s track and cross country teams. Unfortunately, a chronic running injury cut her college career short. She started spending time in the pool or on a stationary bike many days of the week; days that she would rather be running.
The rehab seemed endless at first, but what started as cross training eventually became her new passion Within a couple of months Kelly was ready to sign up for her first triathlon. With a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation Kelly was able to purchase her first triathlon bike and begin a successful career in triathlon. In 2008r Kelly raced in her third ITU World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver where she took first place in her disability classification and set a personal record with a time of 2:34:51. Kelly is a 3-time Ironman finisher as well, with a personal best time of 12:29:03, which she did at the Beach 2 Battleship Ironman distance race. Her resume also highlights finishes at Ironman Arizona and Ironman World Championships in 2007. These finishes are the reason why, for the second year in a row, Kelly was invited to join the Elite Triangle Triathlon Team, which consists of the best triathletes in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Kelly continues to race at the amateur elite level in triathlons and looks forward to pushing new limits during the coming season. She works avidly to promote the sport of triathlon for all disabled athletes, and volunteers regularly with the Wounded Warrior Project and Triangle Amputee Support Group. Kelly is also not just limited to triathlon. In 2009 she also helped break new ground in the sport of tennis by being the first disabled ballperson at the US Open.
In that event Kelly pushed herself because that's what she does. For her it is a not about being recognized for her leg, or for what she can do despite missing one of her legs. It has always been about holding herself to the same standard as everyone else and competing against the other athletes in her age group. For Kelly it is more than just getting out there and playing the sport. She wants to excel and exceed expectations; even her own. She wants to push the limits. Anyone can play, not everyone can compete. And she wants to compete to the best of her ability. Kelly has always understood what it is like to be different, but that has never stopped her from fitting in. But today it's more than fitting in. It's about standing out; standing out based on her merits, not her leg. And it's about meeting the standards set by able-body athletes. She trains as hard and works as hard as any other athlete, and her times prove it.
Kelly is a 25 year old triathlete and distance runner. She is also a below knee amputee, having lost her leg to a congenital defect when she was 6 months old. She was fit with her first prosthesis at the age of nine months and was walking by the time she was 13 months old. Running came just as naturally as walking so it is little wonder that by middle school Kelly was ready to show the world what she could do. By eighth grade Kelly was racing with the United States Disabled Sports Team at national and international track and field events, competing in races ranging from the 100-meter to the 800-meter. In 2002 Kelly held 2 world records in her disability classification in track and was also a top runner on her high school varsity cross country team. When Kelly entered her freshman year at Duke University, she continued to train by running with her school’s track and cross country teams. Unfortunately, a chronic running injury cut her college career short. She started spending time in the pool or on a stationary bike many days of the week; days that she would rather be running.
The rehab seemed endless at first, but what started as cross training eventually became her new passion Within a couple of months Kelly was ready to sign up for her first triathlon. With a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation Kelly was able to purchase her first triathlon bike and begin a successful career in triathlon. In 2008r Kelly raced in her third ITU World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver where she took first place in her disability classification and set a personal record with a time of 2:34:51. Kelly is a 3-time Ironman finisher as well, with a personal best time of 12:29:03, which she did at the Beach 2 Battleship Ironman distance race. Her resume also highlights finishes at Ironman Arizona and Ironman World Championships in 2007. These finishes are the reason why, for the second year in a row, Kelly was invited to join the Elite Triangle Triathlon Team, which consists of the best triathletes in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Kelly continues to race at the amateur elite level in triathlons and looks forward to pushing new limits during the coming season. She works avidly to promote the sport of triathlon for all disabled athletes, and volunteers regularly with the Wounded Warrior Project and Triangle Amputee Support Group. Kelly is also not just limited to triathlon. In 2009 she also helped break new ground in the sport of tennis by being the first disabled ballperson at the US Open.
Awards
2009 National ParaTriathlon Champion (PC Nationals Gold Medalist)
2008 World Champion (ITU World Triathlon Championships Gold Medalist)
2008 National Champion (PC Nationals Gold Medalist)
2X ITU World Triathlon Championships Silver Medalist
3X Ironman Finisher
Female Amputee Ironman World Championships World Record Holder
2006 Physically Challenged Female Athlete of the Year (Honorable Mention)
2005 Physically Challenged Female Athlete of the Year (Honorable Mention)
2008 World Champion (ITU World Triathlon Championships Gold Medalist)
2008 National Champion (PC Nationals Gold Medalist)
2X ITU World Triathlon Championships Silver Medalist
3X Ironman Finisher
Female Amputee Ironman World Championships World Record Holder
2006 Physically Challenged Female Athlete of the Year (Honorable Mention)
2005 Physically Challenged Female Athlete of the Year (Honorable Mention)