Quinn-Austin Kelly is a European champion after winning gold in the SB14 100m breaststroke in Turkey.
The 17-year-old swimmer from Oakworth won in 1:04.96, finishing three seconds ahead of the rest of the field, many of whom had competed in the Paris Paralympics final two years ago.
His dad Darren admits this is the biggest achievement of Quinn's swimming career so far and has strengthened his aim of reaching the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.
Quinn competes in the S14 class, which is for swimmers with an intellectual impairment that has a significant impact on their sporting performance.
Quinn's dad Darren told us: "At the beginning of his accreditation and many psychological tests for S14, Quinn felt inferior to others, but over time he has come to understand that it is about what he can do, not what he cannot do.
"All this happened over a very short period of time, with little time to think about it and that did help him."
And Quinn's dedication to his craft is outstanding, which gives his family real belief about his chances in LA.
Darren said: "Quinn's ability to train in the pool is second to none, but he also recognises that water time is not enough.
"He trains in the gym three times a week and completes three High Velocity Overload (HVO) sessions on the rowing machine.
"We are very confident that he will make it to LA but the most important thing is that he believes this.
"You also have to remember that he went to the European Championships having had no pool time for three weeks before he flew out to Turkey."
Quinn-Austin Kelly on the podium in Turkey. (Image: UGC)
Asked what it would mean to his family for Quinn to make the Paralympics, Darren said: "It would show what we always believed: that Quinn's ability can show the rest of the Para and non-Para swimmers that academics aren't always the most important aspect in life.
"For Quinn, it's the beginning of his life, it makes him very happy, and he wants to show the world what he is capable of achieving and hopefully use this to promote Para swimming and other sports."
Still only 17, the fact Quinn raced against and beat adults in Turkey should stand him in good stead.
Darren said: "Quinn has always raced up an age group and this has paid dividends for him, now he doesn't even consider the age difference.
"He knows he has to beat them all whatever the age."
Quinn-Austin Kelly's gold medal from Turkey. (Image: UGC)
Quinn is now at Skipton Swimming Club, after spending much of his developing years with City of Bradford.
But swimming might not have been his path, with Darren saying: "Quinn originally started as a gymnast and was good, but there was no time for both sports to run side by side, so he picked swimming.
"He started his swimming lessons when he was five years old at Keighley swimming pool."
Quinn's mum Tina also had some lovely words about her son, saying: “To say the journey with Quinn hasn’t been easy would be a massive understatement.
“We’ve faced some real struggles and moments where it felt like everything was off the rails.
“School wasn’t your path Quinn, traditional academic success wasn’t on your radar and you’ve definitely taken us in the scenic route to get here.
“Watching Quinn receive his gold medal is something we will never forget.
“He has proved that you can overcome setbacks and it’s about where you finish, not where you start."
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