Kelly Elmlinger

Quick Facts

• As a sophomore in college, Kelly enlisted as an Army medic, and served ten years with the 82^nd Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Unit
• She served three back-to-back deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. After that she was assigned to a special mission’s unit and, and at the same time, she earned her degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina
• After graduation, she moved to Texas and became an avid runner
• Elmlinger’s first triathlon was three weeks before getting her first true running leg, after having the desire to get back into running and qualify for the USA Paratriathlon National Championships

• Her favorite part of competing in triathlon is having the ability to represent the U.S a second time, as well as camaraderie from teammates and competitors

• She has a daughter named Jayden who is her biggest motivator
• She enjoys being able to shape her daughter’s perspective, and teach her that people with disabilities are able to accomplish the same things as everyone else
• Elmlinger’s biggest talent outside of triathlon is cooking, and if she could choose another career, she would open a food truck

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian;
• Paralympic Games Paris 2024, (PTS4 - Women)
• Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 7th (PTS5 - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2023 – gold (PTS4 - Women), 7th (Team Relay - Open)
• Years of participation: PTS4 - Women 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023; Team Relay - Open 2022, 2023
• Medals: 5 (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
• Gold – 2023 (PTS4 - Women); 2021 (PTS4 - Women)
• Silver – 2022 (PTS4 - Women); 2019 (PTS4 - Women)
• Bronze – 2022 (Team Relay - Open)