Why lovable Queensland larrikin dubbed mayor of athletics village and greatest hype man since Snoop Dogg could be the next Dylan Alcott

Don’t tell the people of Cairns that nobody remembers bronze medal winners. Because the people of far north Queensland are celebrating today after iconic identity Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson made Paralympic history.

Patterson and Ahmed Kelly shared the Men’s 150m Individual Medley SM3 podium at Tokyo 2020, both winning their first ever Paralympic medals.

And they have replicated that feat, with ‘Scooter’ claiming bronze, his third medal in three Paralympic Games.

Kelly, after earlier being disqualified and then reinstated after an error in officiating during heats, was quick to shrug off the drama and take silver in a time of 3:02.16, while Scooter took the bronze in 3:06.94. 

Patterson was born with dwarfism and diastrophic dysplasia and relies on a custom-made scooter for mobility, making him a local icon in Cairns. 

Despite his size, he boasts an enormous personality and has been dubbed the mayor of the Australian athletics village for his booming voice and enthusiasm.

That has led many to declare him a greater hype man than Paris Olympics guest, rapping icon Snoop Dogg. 

He is also regarded as the unofficial mayor of Cairns, where he is known by most local residents who are celebrating his achievements today.

One of those is Steven Ross, co-owner of Pressure Pumps NQ, who has called for Scooter to become the next Dylan Alcott who has also launched a successful media career. 

‘I met Scooter almost a decade ago, serving the counter at a busy local automotive shop where he works,’ Ross said.

‘He’s become a staple of our working life and is one of those blokes who makes your day better. He doesn’t just know what he’s doing, his personality is infectious.

‘We’ll talk footy with his colleagues at the counter, lament the ups and downs of our local basketball team. It’s something of a catch-up whenever I’m at his shop.

‘The bloke is distinctly Aussie; major networks should give him a look.’

Scooter began swimming at age 11, as it was one of the few sports available for those with diastrophic dysplasia who aspired to compete internationally. 

He met coach Andrew ‘Herbie’ Howard in 2007, who helped him aim for the 2008 Australian Paralympic Team, but he narrowly missed qualifying. 

Undeterred, Scooter set a world record in 2009 and won seven medals at the 2011 Pan Pacific Championships. 

Although he didn’t medal at the 2012 London Paralympics, it was a career highlight. 

He earned two medals at the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships and finally achieved his dream at Tokyo 2020 with a bronze in the men’s 150m individual medley SM3. 

Scooter also won a silver medal in the men’s 50m breaststroke SB2, setting a new Oceania record.

Now, age 35, he has done it again, claiming a medal that he hopes can inspire all Australian children.

And Scooter has no intention of slowing down.

‘To do that – not only with my dwarfism and diastrophic dysplasia – I don’t know of anyone like me around the world that does this,’ he said.

‘I’m just pursuing these dreams and goals to try and inspire and motivate someone else like me to come out and do it, hopefully, maybe for Brisbane 2032.’   

Making the moment even more memorable for Patterson is he’s able to have his long-time coach Andrew ‘Herbie’ Howard pool-side after he became an official Paralympic coach for the Australia team.

‘I keep saying that Herbie and I have been together for 17 years; it’s longer than the average marriage in Australia, and this trip to Paris is pretty much our honeymoon so we’ve been taking a few photos together, going on a few sights, which is good,’ said Patterson

Patterson now prepares to compete in the Men’s SB2 50 metres Breaststroke and Men’s S3 200 metres Freestyle events.