A sixth-placed finish ended Katie Kelly's Paralympic career in the Vision Impaired triathlon in Tokyo.
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After winning gold five years ago at Rio, the 46-year-old backed up for another shot at success at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
While she didn't quite replicate her 2016 success, Kelly was "proud" for how her and guide Brie Silk performed.
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Their swim was the second fastest in the Vision Impaired category, they performed on the bike but Kelly personally believes it was the final run which let her down.
"On that level it was disappointing the run didn't come through," she said.
"I know by how I felt in the run I gave it my all.
"I literally was stumbling to the finish line.
"I think that was just reflective of everything - the huge task of making second Paralympics, to stay healthy and strong, to be competitive and to mentally stay in the game."
"The fact I didn't have a good run, it is also reflective of the strength and competitiveness of our sport and parasport in general," she said.
"Everyone is just getting so strong and so fast and it is really fantastic to see that as well as the professionalism as Paralympics increases."
The former Armidale local was also at the top end of the age scale, and 13 years older than gold medallist Susana Rodriguez.
"The thing I love, the challenge of making my second Paralympics at 46 is massive in one of the hardest sports, being triathlon," Kelly said.
"Competitors were somewhere between 10 and 20 years younger than I."
But, overall, Kelly is positive about the whole experience.
She praised the Japanese for putting on a fantastic Games and highlighted the connection between the athletes and their guides.
"You spend so much time with your guide, it was quite emotional," she said.
"I had a few tears after the race, they were tears of relief. Just the enormity of the occasion.
"It is one race you focus on for four years or five years.
"Everything you do in that five years is for that one race in terms of training, goals and work with your guide."
As for her future in the sport, Kelly isn't quite sure what it holds immediately but has ruled out an appearance in Paris in 2024.
"I am very grateful for everything sport has given me, I never imagined I would be a Paralympian, let alone two times and to win a gold medal at Rio," she said.
"In terms of triathlon, I haven't made any decision on that publicly, I am still talking to a few people."
In the meantime, she is going to focus on her Sport Access Foundation which gives grants to enable children with disabilities to participate in sport.
Kelly started the Foundation after returning from Rio and it has already tasted success with three recipients making their Paralympic debuts at Tokyo.
Col Pearse (swimming), Keira Stephens (swimming) and Jamieson Leeson (boccia) took part in the Games.
Pearse won bronze in the men's 100m S10 butterfly and Stephens also won a bronze in the women's 100m SB9 breastroke.
"For me that is what it is all about, giving back to sport," Kelly said.
"So many people have given me opportunities throughout my life and, of course, I had the capacity to do more.
"I am so grateful I could do that through Sport Access."
Sport Access accepts donations through their website sportaccessfoundation.org.au and it is a fully registered charity.
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