Watch out, world: “Scooter” is on the loose in Paris. Grant “Scooter” Patterson is a much-loved member of the Australian swimming team which will compete at the Paralympics, starting on Wednesday. There are two sides to Patterson, who was born with diastrophic dysplasia.
Ask anyone on the Dolphins team, and they’ll tell you all about the larrikin, all jokes and friendly banter, already lighting up the Paralympic village. Late last week, Patterson zipped around the streets of Paris with Channel Nine’s Nick McArdle and a cameraman, cracking gags and soaking in the beauty of a city that has already sold close to two million tickets for the Paralympics. Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson in Paris ahead of the Paralympics.
Credit: Nick McArdle Patterson’s tricycle, made in 2011 and weighing 4.5 kilograms, made it to Paris in one piece – but, according to Patterson, in need of a “serious paint job”. After making his Paralympic debut in London 2012, Patterson failed to qualify for Rio 2016, but made up for that disappointment at the 2020 Games in Tokyo – where he broke through for his first Paralympic medals, a silver in the 50m breaststroke SB2 and bronze in the SM3 150m individual medley.
The Cairns local, who entertained Australians during the COVID-19 lockdown with his hilarious television interviews, was even awarded keys to the city after his efforts in Tokyo. “They took the keys off me. Too much naughtiness,” Patterson said with a laugh, ahead of swimming.
