0/5

Dylan Alcott named Australian of the Year

Paralympian & TV presenter is the first person with a disability to be awarded title in 62 year history.

Paralympian and TV presenter Dylan Alcott has been named as Australian of the Year.

He was recognised at a ceremony at the National Arboretum in Canberra last night.

It’s the first time in the Award program’s 62 year history, a person with a disability has taken out the title.

Alcott, who co-hosts The Set for ABC and features regularly on Wide World of Sport for Nine, is also recognised in the Australia Day Honours.

He is currently competing in the Australian Open.

Dylan Alcott’s leadership and commitment to developing opportunities for people with a disability is making an impact for thousands of Australians.

As a teenager, Dylan hated being in a wheelchair because he didn’t see anyone like him in mainstream media. Then sport changed everything.

A gold medal at the Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball preceded three more in Paralympic competition after a cross-code switch to tennis. Now, with 23 quad wheelchair Grand Slam titles and a Newcombe Medal, Dylan Alcott recently became the first male in history, in any form of tennis, to win the Golden Slam.

Amid his training and competition load as a world-class athlete, Dylan notes that his most profound impact has come from beyond the field of play. He founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation to provide scholarships and grant funding to marginalised Australians with a disability.

He also authored his best-selling autobiography, Able, and co-founded Get Skilled Access. In addition, the 31 year old’s AbilityFest is Australia’s first and only inclusive, fully accessible music festival. In realising his childhood dream, Dylan holds several high-profile media roles spanning TV, radio and podcasting.

3 Responses

  1. From Logie winner (New Talent Award for The Set), to now Australian of the Year. Such a deserving recipient for the big award yesterday.

    Such a great advocate for disability.

Leave a Reply