There had been tears of pleasure and a rousing standing ovation as Australia’s most embellished feminine Paralympian, Ellie Cole, retired from swimming final weekend – and she or he did so whereas sporting a heartwarming ode to an iconic kids’s film.
Cole posted an image on social media after her closing swim at the Duel in the Pool event, exhibiting her prosthetic foot with ‘Andy’ written on the bottom.
It’s a tribute to Pixar’s award-winning movie Toy Story, through which the lead character Woody has ‘ANDY’ (with a backwards N) written on his cowboy boot, given he’s owned by a child named Andy, who cannot fairly write correctly but.
You’ve obtained a pal in me! Ellie Cole reveals off her tribute to Woody from Toy Story with ANDY written on her prosthetic foot
Woody, the iconic character from Toy Story who was voiced by Tom Hanks
Woody has ANDY (with a backwards N) written on his boots by his proprietor, Andy
Cole’s hilarious tribute included a caption with the iconic Oscar Award-winning track: ‘You’ve obtained a pal in me’, posted alongside a cowboy hat emoji.Â
It’s possible an try and put a smile her followers’ faces, but additionally to remind others that she’ll nonetheless be right here to encourage Aussies, particularly these with a incapacity.
Scores of Cole’s teammates and high-profile Australians shared their delight at the wonderful picture, with one declaring, ‘You win the web at present.’
Former Bachelorette Georgie Love and WNBL star Maddie Garrick had been amongst these to precise their approval whereas followers had been fast to remark on their admiration for the six-time Paralympic gold medallist.
Ellie Cole stars in a modelling marketing campaign for Jockey Australia
Cole joined fellow para-athlete Will Martin, in addition to celebrity Emma McKeon and Grayson Bell, in the first relay to characteristic para and able-bodied swimmers competing in the similar occasion at the Duel in the Pool final Sunday.
USA para-athletes Jamal Hill and Lizzi Smith, together with Amy Fulmer and David Curtiss, received the blended 4x50m freestyle relay, however the end result was secondary in significance to para and able-bodied swimmers competing collectively in a groundbreaking occasion.
‘Huge credit score to Swimming Australia for placing on a para relay, which was wonderful to complete off my profession with,’ Cole stated about her profession swansong.
‘I really feel like the previous couple of months of my profession have been full of milestones.
‘To swim my final swim as an Australia Dolphin with a blended able-bodied, para relay, it is one thing I by no means dreamed would ever occur despite the fact that I at all times hoped it will,’ stated Cole.
Ellie Cole is Australia’s most embellished feminine Paralympian of all-time, with six gold medals
Cole received 4 gold medals and two bronze at the 2012 London Paralympian
The 30-year-old, who already has an Order of Australia Medal, led out the Australia group alongside Matt Levy on the second night time of Duel in the Pool, with each para-swimmers calling time on glittering careers after the meet.
It’s Cole’s third shot at retiring after altering her thoughts at the finish of the Tokyo Olympics and once more after the Commonwealth Games.
The lure of a fairytale ending in entrance of residence followers at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre proved too sturdy – fortunately for all these Aussie followers in attendance.
Ellie Cole attends Golden Slipper Day earlier this yr wanting as glam as ever
The inspirational swimmer had her leg amputated as a consequence of most cancers when she was two years outdated, and went on to win six gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals in the S9 class from 4 Paralympic Games.
‘We did lose the Duel in the Pool, so I used to be simply asking (group coach) Rohan Taylor if that is on once more subsequent yr. I would come again for it,’ Cole stated with a smile.
‘I’m undoubtedly going to hold the goggles up however I nonetheless wish to be round pool deck if I can.
‘To have the individuals who have actually been by my aspect since the very starting right here was very nice. The excellent technique to end,’ stated Cole.
Ellie Cole is carried off the pool deck on the shoulders of teammates to rousing applause
Cole and Levy ended their swimming careers in the similar race – the blended 50m form-stroke multi-class staggered begin – and walked from the pool collectively to a standing ovation.