Grant
'Scooter' Patterson

Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson, is a true blue Aussie Paralympic legend from far North Queensland. Having shot to fame at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, Scooter’s wicked sense of humour and his incredible achievements in the pool have created a platform for him to share his journey with the world.

“I am an outgoing midget or short person, or whatever you want to call it (Scooter laughs). I am born with a rare joint fusion disability connected to dwarfism called Diastrophic Dysplasia,” says Scooter.

When Scooter grew up he was aware of the stigma, that people suffering with Diastrophic Dysplasia, faced. He grew up understanding that he was going to have to work harder than anybody else to achieve amazing things and it was in his teenage years that he began to dream of winning a medal at the Paralympics. Scooter started to train twice a day and dedicated his life to becoming a world-class athlete.

Scooter formed an incredible bond with his coach Herbie Howard and has gone on a 13-year journey with him to winning Paralympic medals in Tokyo. Scooter trains approximately two hours in the morning and two hours at night. Without training, Scooter says “I would be spending my spare time chasing Spanish mackerel out at the reef or breaking speed records on the quad bike like the rest of North Queensland.” “I am a hard-core North Queensland bogan. No ifs or buts about it.

Grant's passion is winning medals in the pool and his hobbies include fishing/spearfishing, quad biking, running his dogs (he has two Kelpies) beside the quad bike, and recently just built his first go-kart with ‘Scooter’ printed on the sides.

The nickname ‘Scooter’ comes from the three-wheeled trike that he scoots around on, enabling him to be very independent at work and home. The name ‘Scooter’ shot to fame around the world during the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo when he won two medals after years of training and the TV coverage that followed. Whilst a dream came true for Scooter winning those medals, the world got to meet the North Queensland larrikin for the first time, as they cheered him home.

“It’s not ‘what happens to us’ that shows our character. It’s how we overcome these challenges, and turn them into positive experiences. For me, I have had the opportunity to be a world-class athlete and at the same time help other people realise their own potential. This is my purpose and I love it,” he says.

Scooter loves sharing his sense of humour and is best at laughing at himself. Scooter welcomes people into his world, a world they would never experience. His communication process is invaluable - he gets the stereotype and throws it out the window. Scooter isn’t just a world-class athlete, he is the voice of change in a fast-evolving world.