Sport
22 September, 2024
Scooter’s new aim
NOW back in Cairns, ‘24 Paralympic hero Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson is hoping to have a more laid-back end to the year embarking on personal projects and with a new goal in mind: Brisbane Paralympics.
After an unforgettable performance in Paris that earned him two Paralympic bronzes and becoming the unofficial mayor of the Paralympic village, Scooter Patterson is finally back in the tropics on a very well-deserved week off.
“Yesterday was my first day off, I only watched movies,” he said.
“I haven’t swum since Thursday, so today I’m going back to the pool but I’m certainly enjoying life before going back to work next week.
“The opportunity to represent Australia is pretty special but waiting for the moment to sit here on my week off and not have to worry about anything and embrace everything that’s happened feels great.
“I got Herbie, my coach, after 17 years of hard work in Paris. I know him as an athlete, but also as a friend and a teammate, so it’s good to see him get some recognition after so many years, and to be able to win two bronze medals in front of him over there was pretty cool as well.”
With his two epic performances in the 150m individual medley and the 50m breastroke, he has grown his Paralympic collection with three bronzes and one silver, and he says the Paralympic journey isn’t over yet.
“The French were very supportive, they love sportsmanship, and they love character, and I think that’s what inspires and motivates me to continue onto LA (Paralympics), and then Brisbane 2032. A homegrown crowd would be pretty special,” he said.
“I’d be 43 by 2032 Olympics. I want to have a try if everything’s in order. If the body’s feeling good and the coach and athlete relationship is good. Things change but if everything’s well I’ll try because it’d be pretty cool to swim in front of my home crowd.”
Right now, Mr Patterson is focused on personal projects and motivational speaking to tell his story and inspire more para-athletes to dream big.
“I’ve put feelers out to maybe do some commentary, a bit of acting too, and there’s a few opportunities coming up,” he said.
“Also, motivational speaking, which I got into to give back and help people understand that you don’t work just for the awards, that’s the icing on the cake.
“It’s about your story which can inspire and motivate others. It took me 13 years to win my first Paralympic medal, so my journey, of the ups and downs, is really touching and inspiring and motivating.
“When you get knocked down, pop back up, that’s my character, I always have a joke and muck around, life’s too short to be boring.”
