Alongside his sporting career, Alcott is an avid music fan Triple J listeners may know him as a presenter on Weekend Arvos, and a regular guest on Triple J breakfast. I hated my disability, I didnt even want to be here any more and then I found tennis and it changed and saved my life, he said in New York last year. He is dating his stunning sex therapist girlfriend Chantelle Otten. He also said after winning the gold medal at the Paralympics that he will not compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, retiring from the sport. I thought 'oh,I'm underprepared'. Despite his sporting success, Dylan is most proud of his achievements off the court. "To be given that honour, to hold that platform to be able to do that, it's huge, and I'm just so grateful and thankful it's unbelievable.". "The reason I am retiring is I think there are people who are ready to take that mantle, and keep breaking down those glass ceilings and keep pushing. [14] It was his maiden grand slam title. You would be forgiven for thinking that with Dylans side hussles taking off as they have, his sport has suffered. The reason I get out of bed every day is to change perceptions. Dylan Alcott celebrates his Golden Slam feat at the 2021 US Open. "I really hope I make you proud out there. He earned his first Super Series title in 2014 by defeating world number three Andy Lapthorne 7-5, 6-1 in the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship final in Nottingham, and he also won the New Zealand Open in just his second tournament participation. As an out and out star on and off the court, Dylan Alcott continues to inspire people and break down barriers every single day. Being named Australian of the Year is an honour he knows means a lot so many people given he's the first disabled person to win the award in its 62-year history. "The biggest achievement for me is just being a happy bloke. "It's just an unconscious bias that people have. In the final, he defeated world no. "To be named Australian of the Year and to get it for not just being good at tennis, but for the work off the court my purpose 10 years ago, yesterday, today and as Australian of the Year, it's never changed," he said. Ive known this day was coming for a while. Bigger than tennis #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/y9U67vmSVC. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. His father, Martin Alcott, and mother, Resie Alcott, are his parents. Alcott has made headlines for all kinds of reasons throughout his career heres a quick primer on some highlights. He partnered with Australian player Heath Davidson to earn four wins at the Australian Open (201821). At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, he was a member of the Australian mens wheelchair team that won silver. He is also the first quad tennis player to complete the career grand slam, having won all four majors in both singles and doubles. Starting in wheelchair tennis, Alcott soon switched to wheelchair basketball and was just 15 when the Australian national team, the Rollers, won world championship bronze in 2006. [9] In his first Paralympics, Alcott was quoted: "To be 17 and win gold well it just doesn't get any better than that."[10]. Surgery to remove it left him a paraplegic. [18] In November 2021, Alcott announced his intention to retire from professional tennis entirely following the January 2022 Australian Open. He required a full hand reconstruction; once rehabilitated, he became eligible for a quad classification in tennis. "I thought I was no chance and then I got here and I saw this really good-looking rampand I thought, 'Imight have a chance here'. Dylan Alcott tells Kurt Fearnley on One Plus One how sport opened doors All Rights Reserved. [13] In January 2015, he won the quad wheelchair Australian Open title by defeating David Wagner in straight sets. The foundation offers grants to help children and young adults with disabilities reach their full potential through sports and educational pursuits. You really don't, and I'm extremely honoured to be among all of you and to get the nod, as I said, congratulations on everything that you're doing. [13] Early in the year, he won the New Zealand Open in just his second tournament appearance. In wheelchair tennis, he was ranked fourth in the world under-18s. He made his Summer Paralympics debut in Beijing, China, in 2008, helping the team win a gold medal. Lawson Crescent Acton Peninsula, CanberraDaily 9am5pm, closed Christmas Day Freecall: 1800 026 132, Museum Cafe9am4pm, weekdays9am4.30pm, weekends. Of those 4.5million people, only 54 per centof them are involved in the workforce. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Dylan secured his place in the history books when he won the quad wheelchair singles to win his fourth Paralympic gold medal. When Dylan was a baby, surgeons had to remove a tumor wrapped around his spinal cord, and he became paralyzed. 1(29 June 2015) Dylan attended Brighton Grammar School from year six onwards, where he represented Victoria in swimming and Australia in wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. To learn more about cookies and your cookie choices. AbilityFest is just the tip of the iceberg, though. "My purpose is changing perceptions so people with disability, people like me can get out there and live the lives that they deserve to live. Between 2018-2021 Alcott won ten singles and eight doubles Grand Slams at the Australian Open, French Open, US Open and Wimbledon. Alcott is a wheelchair user, after an operation to remove a tumour on his spine when he was three weeks old left him a paraplegic. "I'm not downgrading what tennis has done for me. When the tournament backflipped and had it reinstated, he praised them wholeheartedly.. We're not just ready to work, we're ready to take your jobs, alright? 'My purpose is changing perceptions': Dylan Alcott's Australian of the Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. the Australian Paralympic Team! Dylan Alcott will now retire from sports after the Australian Open 2022. A day later, his Paralympic singles dream came true when he defeated Andy Lapthorne to win the gold medal in the Mens Quad Singles. Im proud Ive won the Golden Slam in wheelchair tennis. From a young boy who felt compelled to do something more meaninful with his life after being bullied for being in a wheelchair, to a Grand Slam champion, and now transitioning into the next stage of his life as a public leader, it's undeniable that Alcott has used his tennis success to build a platform to shine a light on and lift up people with a disability - and he has created a legacy that is so much more than just filling seats in a stadium at a tennis match. The tumor was successfully removed, but it rendered Alcott paraplegic and forced him to use a wheelchair. All rights reserved. In the same way, he follows the Christian faith. Honours & Achievements. Dylan Alcott was the right man at the right time for wheelchair tennis He won another gold medal in the quad singles, and he earned a silver medal alongside partner Davidson in the quad doubles. He and another professional wheelchair tennis player Diede de Groot achieved the feat in 2021, making them the first two professional tennis players to do it since Steffi Graf in 1988. Being a good person is. Being a good tennis player is not the priority of my life. "Firstly, I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land as well and pay my respects to [elders] past, present and emerging, to the Prime Minister, thank you so much. Dylan Alcott made history on Tuesday night in becoming the first person with a visible disability to be made Australian of the Year in the award's 62-year history. As of 2022, Dylan Alcotts net worth ranges from $1 million to $3 million. Alcott told ABC News Breakfast he was still emotional after receiving the prestigious award. [14] At the conclusion on 2015, he was ranked number 1 after winning eight titles including two grand slam singles titles. He had previously played when he was a teenager, at the time becoming internationally ranked. At the age of 17 he became the youngest . Stay tuned. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, he became the youngest Rollers gold medalist and, at the age of 17, the youngest competitor in the Wheelchair Basketball tournament. Fans on Thursday cheered. Thanks for making the dreams of a young fat disabled kid with a really bad haircut come true because I cant believe I just did it! he told the crowd after his win. Being a good advocate and changing perceptions for people like me so they can live lives they deserve to live and get the opportunities I have had. Its been an incredible ride and I think the time has come to move onto other things that I do. The 31-year-old athlete, Paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate was recognisedfor both his sport and disability awareness work. Dylan Alcott has won the Australian Open men's quad wheelchair singles title six times. [12] In July 2014, he defeated world number three Andy Lapthorne 75, 61 in the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship final in Nottingham to win his first Super Series crown. At just 31, Dylan is already a seasoned veteran. Dylan Alcott: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails Dylan Alcott, best known for being a Triathlete, was born in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, December 4, 1990. Is a seven-time Australian Open quad wheelchair singles champion Completed a Grand Slam in quad wheelchair doubles in 2019, winning all four major titles for the season Became first male player to complete a Golden Slam in 2021, sweeping the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open and Paralympic Games quad wheelchair singles titles It's a competition that has experienced almost immeasurable growth since players like Alcott started pushing and advocating for equality, and speaking to ESPN ahead of what was his final Grand Slam, Alcott said he hopes wheelchair tennis' next-generation of talent will continue to recieve the same attention and exposure after he's gone - especially in Australia. And I'm honestly so honoured to be up here and it's because of them and everybody in my life that I sit here as a proud man with a disability tonight. Apart from tennis and basketball, Alcotts biography, Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams, and Smashing Glass Ceilings, was released by ABC Books in 2018 and was written by Grantlee Kieza. Alcott's personality is infectious. Dylan Alcott | National Museum of Australia Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has delivered an impassioned defence of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), declaring "it's not broken it's bloody great". Accessible across all of today's devices: phones, tablets, and desktops. He competed in the quad wheelchair category, which encompasses athletes in wheelchairs who have additional limitations in at least one arm. For every one idiot to give you a hard time, there are 10,000 others worth your time. He's been a voice -- a big one -- for disabled people not only across Australia, but the world over. DYLAN ALCOTT (@dylanalcott) Instagram photos and videos He is presently employed as a motivational speaker and a Triple J radio personality. In 2021, Dylan Alcott became the first male in history, in any form of tennis to win the Golden Slam - all four grand slams and the Paralympic gold medal in a calendar year. At the Junior National Basketball Championships, he was also awarded Most Valuable Player. "And I thought to myself, 'that's not my life',but I believed that was going to be my life. As Dylan Alcott spoke to the world's media in his final Australian Open post-match press conference in the main interview room at Melbourne Park, it was not that his competitive wheelchair tennis career had come to an end that brought tears to his eyes. Dylan has an athletic body type. Tennis star and Paralympian Dylan Alcott named Australian of the Year To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. Dylan won a second Paralympic Games gold medal at the Rio Games in 2016 having made the switch from Wheelchair Basketball to Wheelchair Tennis when he and quad doubles partner Heath Davidson defeated reigning champions Nick Taylor and David Wagner of Team USA. My purpose is not winning gold medals and tennis matches," he said. Dylan Alcott's golden year continues at Tokyo Paralympic Games He has achieved success through junior competition as well, being named the Most Valuable Player at the Junior National Basketball Championships. I'm forever grateful. Why Leonardo DiCaprio may never get married & have Kids Either, Katherine Schwarzenegger gives birth to her second child, Donna Dixon and Dan Aykroyd separated after 39 years of marriage, but decided to stay legally married, COVID-19 Vaccination Will Be Required for Oscar Nominees and Guests, but Not for Performers and Presenters. He moved to the United States to continue playing wheelchair basketball at college, but returned to Australia in 2010 to focus on the national team, which won the World Championship that year and silver at London 2012. He won the award a second time in 2021. Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Dylan Alcott Foundation, 2004: Wheelchair Sports Victoria Junior Athlete of the Year, 2005: Wheelchair Sports Victoria Junior Athlete of the Year, 2006: Wheelchair Sports Victoria Junior Athlete of the Year, 2007: Paralympic World Cup, Manchester Wheelchair Basketball, silver, 2007: Most Valuable Player at Junior National Championships Wheelchair Basketball, 2008: Wheelchair Sports Victoria Junior Athlete of the Year, 2008: Beijing Paralympic Games Wheelchair Basketball, gold, 2008: Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), 2009: Paralympic Basketball World Cup, Manchester gold, 2010: IWBF World Championships, Birmingham gold, 2010: Paralympic Basketball World Cup, Manchester bronze, 2015: Australian Open Quad Singles, Champion, 2015: US Open Wheelchair Tennis, Champion, 2016: Australian Open Quad Singles, Two-Time Champion, 2017: Australian Open Quad Singles, Three-Time Champion, 2018: Australian Open Quad Singles, Four-Time Champion (only male player to date, in the Open era across all formats of the tournament to claim four-straight singles wins), 2018: Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis, Doubles Champion (partner Heath Davidson), 2018: US Open Wheelchair Tennis, Two-Time Champion, 2019: Australian Open Quad Singles, Five-Time Champion, 2019: Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis, Two-Time Doubles Champion (partner Heath Davidson), 2019: French Open Quad Singles, Champion, 2020: Australian Open Quad Singles, Six-Time Champion, 2020: Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis, Three-Time Doubles Champion (partner Heath Davidson), 2020: French Open Quad Singles, Two-Time Champion, 2021: Australian Open Quad Singles, Seven-Time Champion, 2021: Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis, Four-Time Doubles Champion (partner Heath Davidson), 2021: Wimbledon Quad Singles, Two-Time Champion, 2021: French Open Quad Singles, Three-Time Champion, 2020 (2021): Tokyo Olympic Games Quad Singles, gold, 2020 (2021): Tokyo Olympic Games Quad Doubles, silver (partner Heath Davidson), 2021: Secured the first ever Golden Slam by an Australian when he won the Quad Singles at the US Open, 2022: Made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Dylan Alcott AO is a Paralympic tennis and basketball player who was awarded a Scholarship within the 2011 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, and was paired with Andrew Gaze AM as his Mentor. This website uses cookies to help deliver and improve our services and provide you with a much richer experience during your visit. He received that honor by winning the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments (the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, and the U.S. Open) as well as a Paralympic gold medal in tennis in the same year. The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to Country, community and culture. "It was my purpose yesterday, today and it will be my purpose as your Australian of the Year for the next 12 months and beyond, and I really hope I make every single one of you proud. In 2008, Dylan won Gold at the 2008 Beijing . In 2010, Alcott was a part of the Rollers success at the World Championships in Birmingham, England. In total Alcott won 15 Grand Slam singles events and 8 Grand Slam doubles titles. 'I am so lucky': five things to know about 2022 Australian of the Year "Now I'm retired, I don't want there to be a dip where wheelchair tennis goes back on the outside courts and no one cares. Supporting young disabled people to get where they want to go is Alcotts bag. Few people win Paralympic Games medals in both basketball and tennis. "As we start opening up from this pandemic, which is awesome, we've got to think about and prioritise people with disability. Alcott continued to hold his spot and was a member of the Rollers when the team travelled to the Beijing Olympic warm-up tournament in January 2008. Alcott also won a gold medal in the quad doubles. Dylan Alcott's inspirational journey to tennis stardom - Australian Open | Wide World of Sports Wide World of Sports 100K subscribers Subscribe Share 7.6K views 3 years ago #WideWorldofSports. Alcott quickly began winning on the tennis court, and by the end of 2015 he was ranked number one in the world. In 2021 Dylan Alcott was chasing the rarest title in tennis - a Golden Slam. He is now said to be collaborating with Nike and ANZ Bank on a unique project. The UNIQLO Interview: Dylan Alcott | ITF He won a gold medal in the quad singles after defeating Lapthorne in the final match. In 2009, Alcott accepted a scholarship at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, where he went on to win the College Championship division with the University of Illinois wheelchair basketball team. Alcott understands and embraces he's a role model - not just for disabled Australians and athletes, but for everyone. It really is, and I'm so thankful for the life that I get to live. At the Junior National Basketball Championships in 2007 he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Alcott was a member of the Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team, known colloquially as the Australian "Rollers". "I love my disability. Dylan Alcott began his basketball career at the age of 14 when he played his first game of wheelchair basketball for the Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, in the 2006 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship, where the team earned bronze. This is his racquet. Why Is Dylan Alcott Such An Inspiration To Australians And The World? Dylan Martin Alcott, AO (born 4 December 1990) is an Australian former wheelchair tennis player, former wheelchair basketball player, radio host and motivational speaker. And he has a tennis achievement list that would make any current player not named Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic . "Even though I'm not on court, my purpose doesn't change, because it's not winning tennis tournaments, it's changing perceptions for people with disabilities to live the lives they want to live. Dylans current age is 30, which he celebrated in 2020, and his zodiac sign is Sagittarius, according to his birthday. "And when I reached the end of my teenage years, I started seeing people like me. And on Tuesday he was awarded the title of Australian of the Year yet another huge accolade for the now 31-year-old. "I don't try to be one, and I think that's why people have got into the story - they've thought 'I'll get around that guy, he seems like he's having fun and being himself'. In January 2018, he shared a video with Will Smith from the 2018 Australian Open. Everyone thinks we've got to be someone we're not, but we don't. Part of what the festival does is raise money for Alcotts foundation, which uses the funds to help young Australians with disabilities fulfil their potential whether thats in sport, music, business or anything else they show aptitude for. Dylan played his first game of wheelchair basketball in 2004 and made his World Championship debut two years later, where he won a bronze medal. In January 2015, Dylan won his maiden Grand Slam title when he defeated David Wagner in straight sets at the Australian Open and by the end of the year, was ranked number 1 in the world, after winning eight titles including two Grand Slam singles titles. [4] He was born with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord which was operated on during the first few weeks of his life. But as his pending retirement edges closer, it's the achievements off the court of which he's most proud. 2 Andy Lapthorne (GBR) in straight sets to claim the quad singles crown. In 2019, he became the first Paralympian to score a Silver Logie for Most Popular New Talent on ABCs The Set. Being a good tennis player is probably number 38 on my priority list, after being a good person, a good family member, a good partner, a good friend and a good advocate. In 2016 he cofounded Get Skilled Access, an organization that promotes inclusion for people with disabilities. Dylan Alcott - the tennis champion, Paralympian and disability advocate - has been named the 2022 Australian of the Year. "To everybody that's nominated for the Australian of the Year category but absolutely everybody here tonight, congratulations on what you're doing. "And I'm so lucky that I had one of the best family, some of the best friends, my beautiful partner Chantelle and my whole team who told me that I was worthy and that I wasallowed to be loved. . They were the first two professional tennis players since Steffi Graf in 1988 to accomplish the feat. I really mean that. Dylan Alcott is a famous wheelchair athlete. "We've got to get them the vaccines and the tests and whatever else they need so they can get out there andstart living their life. "I used to hate having a disability. Because it's always more than you think. Alcott dug deep to claim the opening set and steadily wore down Vink, winning 7-5, 6-2 to secure major title No.15. "I feel ridiculous sitting up here, to be honest. 2004: Wheelchair Sports Victoria Junior Athlete of the Year; 2005: Wheelchair Sports Victoria . I won my semifinal at the Australian Open, luckily. In saying that, Im going to train my arse off for the next two months and try and go out on a high., Theres no way I could finish my career a few weeks ago because the US Open was not my home, Alcott said in November. "I remember when I won the US Open I skolled a beer out of my trophy and you put it up on Twitter, saying, 'if I got to pass the mantle over to this guy I'd be honoured, but the only thing is we have to skolthe beer together.' Dylan Alcott Full Bio, Careers, Stats, News, Net Worth 2020 "Not the awards, none of that. Dylan Alcott: A champion of change He is a TV Week Logie award winner. He was also born with a tumor wrapped around his spinal cord, which was surgically removed within his first few weeks of life. In 2018, he won the Quads singles event at the Wheelchair Tennis Masters for the first time. "But I am humbled that I am a role model for a lot of people, and that's not going to change until the day I die.". Alcott's disability is paraplegia; he was left paraplegic after surgery as an infant to remove a tumour on his spinal cord. [15], Alcott teamed up with Heath Davidson to win the Men's Quad Doubles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Dylan Alcott is a tennis star, but he's most proud of his off - ESPN "That just didn't happen when we were young. "But it's up to all of us to do things so they can get out and be proud of their disability as well and be thepeople that they want to be. [12] At the age of 16, he was ranked inside the top five juniors in the world. Dylan Alcott returned to wheelchair tennis in 2014 and, at the age of 16, was rated among the top five juniors in the world. He recently became the first male in any form of tennis to win the Golden Slam four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in one year. Dylan also established Ability Fest, a fully inclusive and accessible music festival. Someone like me in tearsbecause their life was over. Sydney FC's fourth A-League Women championship fulfils their own living legacy, A short history of the lowest-scoring matches in rugby league history, AFL Round-Up: Unprecedented Pies a joy to behold, Horne-Francis unleashes Port's intensity, Hannah Green comes up clutch to win LPGA's LA Championship in playoff, 'They will forever know their dad was a hero': 1,000 mourners farewell slain NSW paramedic, There are 11 First Nations MPs and senators. Alcott was named an All Star Five for the tournament. Alcott also won Paralympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, making him the first man to achieve the Golden Slam in quad singles, winning all four majors and the Olympics. Dylan Alcott | Player Profiles | Players and Rankings | News and Events Dylan Alcott has achieved so much on the tennis court, but even more off it. Dylan Alcott is among that small group, joined only by American Randy Snow and Dutchwoman Maaike Smit. "Now, unfortunately, I heard the Australian of the Year afterparty is one of the best afterparties ever. "[Being a role model] comes easy to me, because I'm not trying hard. Zack, his elder brother, is his only sibling. (W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (WL) winloss record. "[I'm] definitely [more proud of] the off-court stuff," he told the press following his quads singles semifinal win over long-time rival and friend Andy Lapthorne. We are coming. Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott Doesn't Want To Be An Exception Alcott smashes the bubbly at retirement announcement pic.twitter.com/afu5BO7pWQ, Its the next generations turn to dominate and get the recognition they deserve, he said. Im proud to be disabled. [1] A portrait by Felix von Dallwitz titled Dylan Alcott, AOTY was a finalist in the 2022 Archibald Prize.[2]. And he already plans to be a big advocate for disables Australians, using his platforms to push vital funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) among other things. Australian basketball and tennis player Dylan Alcott successfully competed in several Paralympic Games in the early 21st century. Alcott returned to his first sport, wheelchair tennis, in 2014 and quickly established himself as a player to beat. He also was a member of the panel on the AFL Footy Show in 2019 until its cancellation. And after a career year in 2021, in which he won the coveted Golden Slam (every Grand Slam and the Paralympic gold medal), Alcott has decided it's right to call time on professional sport so he can continue to build on the platform which has resulted in some incredible strides forward for people with a disability. In addition, his job as a wheelchair tennis player, wheelchair basketball player, radio presenter, and motivational speaker provides him with a significant amount of money. Alcott began playing basketball in the early 21st century. But unfortunately I've got anAustralian Open to try and win in about 36 hours. Despite the fact that Dylan is physically disadvantaged, Otten is very supportive of him.
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