Dylan Alcott
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
He became the first para-athlete to be awarded Tennis Australia’s prestigious Newcombe Medal, and the first man in any form of the sport to win a Golden Slam in a calendar year, yet Dylan Alcott, 31, admits to WHO that he wasn’t always proud of himself. “I used to hate myself so much,” he says. “I got bullied about my disability and took 28 years to fully feel worthy of love and support.”
His words are surprising, as the confident athlete and motivational speaker has dazzled the globe with his accomplishments to date, not only through his sport but now in trying to change perceptions around people with disabilities through his consulting firm, Get Skilled. He has also recently partnered with Grant Burge Wines for the Leave Your Mark campaign, where two dollars from every bottle of wine sold goes to his foundation to help young Australians with disability achieve their dreams. “It’s because of people with disability who came before me and broke down barriers that I can be myself,” he says.
Here, he shares why it’s so important for him to speak out...
Do you reflect on your accomplishments?
Not too much, because you get complacent. It’s nice to look back on a career as the washed-up athlete I am now! I’m really looking forward to the next chapter.
We’re keen to know this next chapter!
The reason I get out of
