By DPA,
New York : An amputee triathlete from North Carolina is breaking boundaries at the US Open, chasing balls with the best of the rest on court.
Kelly Bruno, 24, is the first amputee in a ball girl job ever at Flushing Meadows. The lifelong athlete, who hopes to attend medical school, is a Paralympic world record holder 200 and 800 metre events. She also competes at top level in triathlete and Ironwoman competitions.
Scrambling for balls along with teenagers up to 10 years younger has proved to be a winnable challenge.
“It’s definitely harder than I expected,” she told the New York Times. “For me the running is not as tiresome, but I didn’t think standing was going to be so exhausting.”
Bruno said that it’s the throwing that makes the job tough as she works on a high-tech prosthetic leg.
“Everything is a bit harder for me, but the leg has never been a limiting factor. I’ve had it all my life, so I’m used to it.”
Bruno joins a group of 75 ball girls and boys — from 400 who tried out – at the final Grand Slam of the season, with the best performers selected to work during the high-pressure second week.