Stevie Kelly Wrestles for Glasgow Gold
Former AFL SportsReady trainee, Stevie Kelly has recently been selected to represent Australia in wrestling at the XX Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in July.
Stevie will become Australia’s first Indigenous female to wrestle for Australia, having recently won the National and Oceania championships in the 63kg division.
Kelly’s story is one of courage, sacrifice and a personal desire to make her family, community and country proud. Having lived her early years in Katherine, Kelly moved to Melbourne three years ago when she was in Year 11, to train further in judo, in which she excelled from the age of 10.
After completing high school, Stevie then became an AFL SportsReady trainee working with Genazzano FCJ College in Kew, earning a Certificate IV in Business.
The twenty year old is the sister of Parramatta Rugby League player Luke Kelly and grew up in the sport of Judo, where she has competed on the National and International stage but more recently has turned her focus from judo to wrestling.
“I really enjoyed judo growing up and then made the switch to wrestling three years ago. I stuck at it and now we’re here. I like the rough-and-tough stuff.’’
Upon hearing that she had officially been named as part of the 9 member wrestling team, Stevie commented, “I am so excited, it is just a dream come true.”
“My Mum was in tears”, Stevie added.
“I moved to Melbourne from Katherine in the Northern Territory to chase my dream, and now I have made it; the feeling is just unreal.”
Kelly’s desire to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games is far from fantasy. She will arrive in Scotland confident in her ability “Being selected is one thing but I’ll be going in with 100 per cent and with no doubt,’’ Kelly said
“I think I’ve trained as hard as anyone else and that’s the reason why I can put up just as big a fight as anyone.”
Former AFL Melbourne Demon, Matthew Whelan, served as Stevie’s Indigenous Mentor throughout her traineeship with AFL SportsReady could not be more proud of the young wrestler, “from the get-go, Stevie was a gun trainee. She was really switched on.”
“I am expecting big things from Stevie; her drive and determination to succeed will place her in great stead, both in the gym and in the workplace.” Whelan said.
“I want to encourage everyone to get behind Stevie in Glasgow; she is going to make a real impact.”
The AFL SportsReady team wishes Stevie all the best in her quest for Glasgow Gold (29 31st July, 2014).
DATE: Monday 2 June, 2014
IMAGE: Courier Mail
