Perfectly Imperfect: Embrace your difference, find your superpower

by Ellen Keane

256 pages, Hardcover

Published December 13, 2023

Reviews

[Saga Nord · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 really nice and uplifting.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen is a proud disabled woman. I’d be afraid to refer to Ellen as this, but this is the lesson I’ve learned in this book. The lesson of ableism. She said it is offensive to not refer to her as disabled, just because she is a gold winning medalist, an incredible athlete, who just so happens to have a little arm and our youngest Paralympian at age 13. She has been referred to as both a superhuman (a term channel 4 coined paralympians) and also because of this not qualified for certain grants or allowances because she “isn’t disabled enough”. This is something she has had to tirelessly navigate and campaign for.

Growing up, she didn’t see anyone else that looked like her. She was one of 4 kids, so without any malice or disrespect to Ellen, her parents treated her the same as her siblings.
It was only in her teenage years, like any other teenager, she became uncomfortable in her body (but obviously to a higher degree) and started wearing baggier clothes, with her sleeve down, to conceal her arm and blend in. The swimming pool became her safe haven. It wasn’t necessarily where she could hide, but it’s where she felt free from the stares and the comments and where she learned to push herself in new ways.

Some sports books can be quite dull and boring due to the strict and regimented lifestyle, full of sacrifices, but Ellen tried to poke fun at this serious situation saying she gets half price nails and free entry to Disneyland. She won’t settle for second best in her coaches or in her relationships. For so long she was told to stay in the side lane and wear fins, where her progress was stunted. She will no longer blend in and has even tattooed her little arm so you won’t shy away from looking at it, but rather see it for all its strength and beauty. It’s a compelling story of pushing boundaries, overcoming adversity and finding your superpower.

[Rachel Quinlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook.
Inspirational. Ellen is born with one arm. Her parents treat her just like their other children.
She describes how she became aware of her difference and came to terms with it. How she went on to be a Paralympian swimmer going to five Paralympics.
How she overcame despondency, lack of self belief is remarkable.
Short, medium and long term goals for each of us are suggested at the end of each chapter, but hard to do when listening to the audiobook. I’m so inspired that I’m going to get a copy of her book to work through the exercises, rather than to re-read, amazing though it was.
Go Ellen, be happy.

[Patrick Cormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Keane’s book is a brilliant read, full of lots of good advice and guidance from one of our most remarkable athletes, also if your reading this Ellen, thanks for telling us in the book that ‘Phenomenal’ by Eminem is on your pre race playlist, it’s some tune and I have added it to my pre work out play list. On a serious note I have taken some inspiration from this book in trying to get out of my comfort zone, pushing my limits physically and mentally. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for motivation for any type of challenge. I found that it spoke to me in some of the challenges I have taken up lately.

[Caroline Croezen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant read with life lessons and an interesting life story.