Ellen Keane

Ellen Keane (born 6 April 1995) is an Irish Paralympic swimmer and gold medallist competing in S9, SM9 and SB8 classification events.[1]

This article is about the Irish paralympic swimmer. For the 19th century actress, see Ellen Kean.

Ellen Keane
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995
Dublin, Ireland
Sport
Country Ireland
SportParalympic swimming
Disability classS9, SM9, SB8
Event(s)Breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley
ClubNAC Swim Club
Medal record
Women's para swimming
Representing  Ireland
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 100m breaststroke (SB8)
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100m breaststroke (SB8)
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2022 Madeira100m breaststroke SB8
Silver medal – second place2023 Manchester100m breaststroke SB8

Career

Keane won three bronze medals at world championships before winning a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke (SB8) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics,[2] and gold at the same event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[3]

Personal life

Keane was born with an undeveloped left arm and competes as an amputee. She is a student at Dublin Institute of Technology.[4][5]

In June 2017 she was honoured by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr, with a Lord Mayor's Award, which is awarded 'to citizens who, through their ordinary everyday lives, enrich this city in an extraordinary way'.[6]

Media appearances

In 2017, Keane gave a TEDx Talk Entitled 'My Lucky Fin' telling the story of how she changed the way of looking at her own disability - and how that in turn changed her entire life.[7]

In 2022, Keane appeared on the fifth series of the Irish version of Dancing With the Stars overall Keane finished the competition in second place losing out on the win to Nina Carberry and her pro-partner Pasquale La Rocca.[8][9]

Culture

For International women's day in 2022 An Post launched a stamp collection of Irish sports women which featured Keane and others.[10]

Ellen was joint Grand Marshall with Kellie Harrington at the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day parade on 17 March 2022.

References
  1. Bailey, Ryan (14 September 2016). "Ellen Keane produces the performance of her life to win bronze in the pool".
  2. "Ellen Keane - Bound for Rio! - Clontarf.ie".
  3. "Paralympics 2020: Gold for Ireland's Ellen Keane". RTÉ Sport. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. "The Weekly Read: An interview with Irish Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane - Independent.ie". 3 March 2015.
  5. "The story of Paralympian Ellen Keane is nothing short of inspirational - Her.ie".
  6. "Lord Mayor's Awards 2017 recipients honoured for their contribution to Irish Society". Dublin City Council. 14 June 2017.
  7. Carter, Erica (26 August 2021). "Paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane used to try and hide her disability". RSVP Live.
  8. O’Donoghue, Denise (10 December 2021). "Dancing with the Stars: Gráinne Seoige and Ellen Keane among first celebrity dancers". Irish Examiner.
  9. "Gráinne Seoige and Ellen Keane among first contestants revealed for new Dancing With the Stars". independent. 10 December 2021.
  10. "An Post launches stamps to celebrate Irish women in sport". The Irish Times.
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