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This year the person nominated as Australian of the Year is a paralympian athlete named Dylan Alcott. There would be few Australians unaware of this man but for the sake of others here is a little bit of background'
Paralympian and tennis champion Dylan Alcott has been named the 2022 Australian of the Year, recognised for his unparalleled record as an athlete and powerful advocacy for people with a disability. Chasing his eighth and final Australian Open crown in Melbourne this week, the 31-year-old became the first man to win a tennis golden slam last September, taking Paralympic gold in the same year as all four major singles titles.
Dylan Alcott is the first person with a disability to become Australian of the Year. Alcott’s honour is the first time the Australian of the Year award has been given to a person with a disability in its 62-year history. National Australia Day Council chairwoman Danielle Roche said Alcott and the other winners had shown courage, determination and fearlessness, inspiring Australians everywhere.
“Dylan Alcott is a champion who has risen to the top of the world rankings through sheer grit and determination,” she said. “His golden slam is an incredible feat, the first for any male tennis player. Dylan is an inspirational Australian on and off the tennis court. Through the Dylan Alcott Foundation, he is giving young Australians facing disadvantage the promise of a better future.” A golden slam in tennis is one better than a grand slam. It includes the 4 grand slam tournaments plus and Olympic gold medal. Very rare accomplishment.
Alcott has 23 quad wheelchair grand slam titles and a Newcombe Medal, and founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation to provide scholarships and grant funding to Australians with a disability. Dylan is a very busy man. Apart from his tennis and foundation he is also a TV presenter on the ABC, the national broadcaster.
He travelled to Canberra for a ceremony with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday night, and planned to return to Melbourne to play at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Dylan was beaten in the AO wheelchair final match and looked rather tired, and no wonder. He took his loss gracefully. The AO was to be his final event because he plans to concentrate on his charity and on using his Australian of the Year profile to raise awareness of disability issues.
Since he was a boy Dylan has been full of determination to live life to the full. More on this inspiring man here
Dylan Alcott farewells tennis and pays tribute to Ash Barty ahead of Australian Open women's final - ABC News
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