Ellen Keane’s farewell swim ended with a sixth-place finish at the Paralympics. But it had never been about jostling for positions on Tuesday morning in Paris, it was about swimming the last few lengths of her competitive career with complete freedom. It was one last swim for “little Ellen”.
The 29-year-old five-time Paralympian has retired having appeared in her first Games in Beijing at the age of just 13.
Keane was not expected to qualify from her S9 100m backstroke heat at the La Défense Arena and so it proved as her time of 1:17.63 was not enough to progress.
Keane, who finished fourth in the final of her strongest event, the SB8 100m breaststroke, on Friday, had entered the backstroke race more as an opportunity to say goodbye than to try win a third Paralympic medal.
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“To have that [backstroke] as a carefree event is the most amazing thing, even last night I said to Nicole [Turner] before I got to bed, ‘Why can’t I just keep swimming and do events that don’t matter, getting in like you are a kid?’
“And that’s what this race was, when you are a kid and you are just excited to get in and swim and who knows what will happen. And that’s exactly what it was, so that swim was more for little Ellen than it was for anyone else.”
For Keane, the disappointment of finishing fourth last Friday night was tempered by the outpouring of support she received in the days that followed.
“It was so lovely to see the people who made the effort who reached out, all of my Dancing with the Stars family were in touch with me and it was really lovely to see the people I have outside of sport as well,” she added.
“I guess that has kind of been my biggest fear, in the Paralympic world I have found my space and I’m so able to be myself here without a care in the world.
“And I really hope that when I leave the sport I’m able to find somewhere I love as much as I loved this.”
Keane waved to friends and family in the crowd when she walked out to the pool on Tuesday morning and after the race she made her way over to the stand where she was embraced by her boyfriend, Max Doyle.
Speaking afterwards, Keane was naturally emotional and said swimming had changed her life for the better.
“I definitely don’t think I’d have the confidence I do [without swimming]. I think the age I was when I started swimming, I was really lucky to get involved when I did.
“I know people who are roughly the same age, maybe a little bit older or younger, who have disabilities as well and they are struggling with their self-confidence and their self-acceptance.
“I know I got that from swimming and that’s why I’m so passionate about talking about it and talking about inclusion and confidence and body positivity because at the end of the day the feelings we all have are human.
“The feelings that we all have are human, just because we look a bit different doesn’t mean we don’t understand those human emotions. I just try to keep talking about that and repeat that message.”
She can hardly remember a time when swimming wasn’t a central part of her life and there’s a chance she’ll continue to dip her feet in the water, recreationally.
“I have been doing it for over 20 years, I got tested by anti-doping for the first time when I was 10, and that was 19 years ago. That’s a long time.
“I kind of forget that I’m in water so much I’m not in gravity as much. Gravity is so hard on the body, I feel I’m going to get in and float for a little bit.
“I’m really excited about trying different things. With the Institute of Sport, they really do support the athletes when they retire.
“One of the last things I said to my strength and conditioning coach was when I come back, I want to be taught how to run properly.
“I’m so grateful to sport as well because having a disabled body, you take for granted we need to know how to be strong and ensure we don’t become more disabled because we don’t have the same strength in some areas.”
The gold medal win in Tokyo was the zenith of her career in terms of success but the Dubliner says the Paris Paralympics will retain a huge place in her heart.
“Tokyo was the highlight for me professionally because I did reach the top. I had the swim of my life that everyone looks for, but I guess these Games are probably my highlight in terms of feeling the team and feeling the love.”
And, despite the nature of Tuesday’s race, Keane still couldn’t totally keep her competitive edge at bay. Entering her heat as the slowest of seven swimmers, going out in last place in her final race was a likely outcome.
“I could see the girl beside me and I was trying so hard not to come last, so I’m really proud of that swim, it was really fun,” she smiled.
Keane retires as a five-time Paralympian and two-time medallist, but also as an athlete whose impact transcended her sport.
Little Ellen would be proud.
