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Canoe Olympian
Olympians

Barry Kelly

Image
Canoe Sprint

Age

72

Olympic History

Moscow 1980

Los Angeles 1984

Career Events

Canoe Sprint Men's K-2 1000m

Canoe Sprint Men's Kayak Double (MKS) 500m

Mens K-4 - 1000m

 

Barry's Story

A champion lifesaver, Barry Kelly made his Olympic debut at Moscow 1980, finishing fifth with Robert Lee in the men’s kayak doubles 500 metres and eighth in the kayak fours 1000 metres. The Byron Bay-born paddler successfully combined surf lifesaving with canoe sprint, making the transition from surf skis to Olympic kayaks.


Kelly teamed with Grant Kenny, another celebrated figure from the beach, to win bronze in the men’s kayak doubles 1000 metres at Los Angeles 1984. The Australians finished behind only the experienced Canadian and French crews. Kelly later became a national canoe sprint coach at the Australian Institute of Sport and attended the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games as an official.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we are located. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.

We celebrate and honour all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians.

The Australian Olympic Committee is committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society and sport.