Create an experience with Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy

Raise the Bar.

Displaying an incredible resilience and passion for helping others, Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy is a woman on a mission. 

Born with one leg shorter than the other, her right foot was amputated when she was just eighteen months old. It wasn’t long before Kathleen mastered the art of life with an artificial leg, and, growing up in a very sporty family, Kathleen soon was playing many sports and showing a particular talent for basketball. 

Her wheelchair basketball career started with the Victorian Women's Wheelchair Basketball team in 2002 and there was to be no turning back. Taking her around the world with the Australian National team & earning a sports scholarship to the University of Illinois. Kathleen went on to win three consecutive US National Championships with the University of Illinois team.

From 2006 to 2015 she held a scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport. The hard work over many years paid off in 2008 when Kathleen rolled out with the Australian Women’s Basketball team at the Paralympic Games in Beijing. 

 "...even when you give something everything you've got, it won't always go your way, but the definition of 'braveness' to me, is in knowing there is a chance of failure, but still putting everything on the line to succeed. There's a lot to be proud of if you've done that." 

Away from the court, Kathleen was selected to represent Australia at the United Nations in New York for the 2016 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. Kathleen was a panelist discussing the Paralympics as a driver for sustainable and inclusive development.

Kathleen is a Co-founder of the Red Dust Heelers Program, which aims to create more awareness of disability and provide opportunities in sport, education and life for people with disability in Aboriginal and other communities across Australia. They use wheelchair basketball as an 'ice breaker' and as a tool to demonstrate the ability of people with disability.

Kathleen relocated to WA to take up a scholarship (and a new challenge) at the WA Institute of Sport for Sprint Kayaking in 2019. 

The Covid19 Pandemic soon followed, and with the Paralympics postponed by a year, Kathleen had a unique opportunity to try and make up a 7 second deficit between herself and her direct competition for a spot on the Tokyo team. 1 year later, Kathleen raced off again against her main competitor, and won in a photo finish! This lead to a 3rd race decider the next day, where she PB'd but was bested by another small margin. Kathleen is now more determined than ever to make the 2024 Paris Paralympic team - relocating (again!) to the Gold Coast, to train under the Australian Head Coach at Paddle Australia's Headquarters.

Kathleen has experienced first hand the power of raising the bar of expectations we put on ourselves and those around us. She believes that too often, people with disabilities have the bar lowered for them, or they lower it themselves, never reaching their potential or dreams. The same can be said for people without disabilities too. She hopes that through sharing her story, it will help others to start dreaming bigger, believing in themselves and their abilities to  achieve.

Kathleen loves to have a laugh, and values the importance of humour in sharing her experiences. No question is off limits with her talks, as seeks to break down the social  barriers between people with and without disabilities. 

Kathleen possess a unique ability to draw out empathy and understanding from her audience, whether they be 6 or 60 years old. With the underlying message that we all have more in common with each other than we might think.

Kathleen has close to 20 years experience in public speaking/mentoring, able to cater to many different events/topics including:  

Fighting back from adversity, body image, self-esteem, learning from failure, what it means to be brave in sport, sacrifice, the importance of a balanced life, courage, goal setting, dedication, team work, embracing your difference and other peoples differences, Paralympic sport, having a go, what it means to be an elite athlete, maintaining motivation, keys to success, the impacts of bullying Vs. being kind, the different tricks you can play on people if you're lucky enough to have one leg!

Career Achievements: 

• 3-time National Champion with University of Illinois, 2005 - 2008
• Academic Student Athlete of the Year 2006/07
• 2006 Amsterdam World Championships team
• 2008 Beijing Paralympic Team - Bronze Medallist
• Competed at Rowing Nationals 2009 (3rd in single, 3rd in mixed double)
• 2014 Toronto World Championships team
• 2nd Australian woman to play professionally in Europe (Italy 2011-12 and Germany 2015)
• 3rd place with Roma Elecom at the 2012 European Championships in Istanbul
• 2012 -  Co-founded the Outback Academy Red Dust Heelers Program - committed to the increasing opportunity, support and awareness for Aboriginal and other Australians with Disabilities - driven by Aboriginal and other people WITH disabilities.
• 2013 - Stood up on a surf board for the first time!
• 2016 - Australian Delegate to the United Nations for the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
• 2016 - became a proud Foster Carer and permanent fixture in the lives of 3 exceptional, resilient and inspiring teenagers.
• Current WA Institute of Sport Scholarship Holder since 2019 for Sprint Kayaking.