Salford Paralympic history-maker Mike Kenny MBE celebrates 78th birthday

Salford-born former Paralympian Mike Kenny smashed records and defied expectations on his way to Paralympic glory, winning 16 gold medals.

He also picked up two silver medals across four Paralympic games in Toronto, Arnhem, New York and Seoul.

When Kenny left school he started an apprenticeship which led him to working as an engineer in the nuclear power industry. At 26 he suffered a severe spine injury at work following a fall from a ladder.

He was not supposed to be in work that day and was covering for someone who was off. That day changed his life forever.

Kenny began his journey to glory as part of his recovery process when one day at the regional spinal unit in Southport he was asked if he would like to go in the pool as part of the process. At first he was scared of the water but before his accident he was able to swim and as he had someone to support him he took on the challenge.

Kenny was asked one day if he’d like to go and watch the swimming games at Stoke Mandeville and he agreed to go along out of curiosity. When he arrived at the games he was asked if he would like to take part in any races to which he enthusiastically said yes.

He won these races which led to him competing regionally, nationally and eventually internationally for Great Britain.

Five years after his accident Mike took to the international stage in Toronto at the 1976 Paralympic Games where he would win his first three gold medals.

In 1980 he travelled to Arnhem where he added another three golds to his tally, slowly cementing himself as one of the great British Paralympians. The Salfordian then extended his tally with four golds and his first taste of silver in 1984 at the Stoke Mandeville/New York games.

Kenny’s final Paralympics came in 1988 where he won a staggering five gold medals along with his second career silver.

Kenny became the most successful British Paralympian ever until he was overtaken by Eccles-born cyclist and swimmer Dame Sarah Storey in 2021.

Kenny received an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 1989 for his services to paraplegic sport and he became a local magistrate in Salford in 1993. He had applied originally in 1988 when he retired from swimming but had to wait for step-free access to be installed.