‘Sport saved my life’: Dylan Alcott enters nation’s Sport Hall of Fame
‘If you could tell a younger Dylan this was happening, I don’t think he’d believe you’: Tennis champion is welcomed into Sport Australia Hall of Fame with six other sporting greats
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Tennis champion Dylan Alcott, who brought home four Paralympic gold medals, has been welcomed into Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
“It’s one of, if not the highest honour in Australian sport, and I’m still in shock,” Alcott said.
“If you could tell a younger Dylan this was happening, I don’t think he’d believe you.
“Sport saved my life. It helped me find my community and gave me a passion and purpose, so to be recognised at this level is really incredible.”
Alcot began competing in Paralympics in 2008 as a member of the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team. In 2014, he returned to wheelchair tennis, ranking number one after winning two grand slam singles and four other titles in just one year.
In 2021, Alcot made history by becoming the first man to achieve a “golden slam” of all four major singles titles and a Paralympic gold medal in the same year.
Besides being a legendary tennis player and gold medallist, he was the first person with a disability to win Australian of the Year, and credited with “making an impact for thousands of Australians”.
He is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities and a philanthropist.
In 2022, he also became an Officer of the Order of Australia for “distinguished service to Paralympic sport, particularly to tennis, and as a role model for people with disability, and to the community through a range of organisations.”
Paralympics Australia chief executive Cameron Murray welcomed the announcement and thanked Sport Australia Hall of Fame for rewarding Alcot’s contributions to sports in Australia.
He described Alcot as “a leading and highly successful athlete in Australian Paralympic sport”.
“Throughout the years he has become a well-respected and much-admired advocate and personality, who has spoken up for many in our society who have felt unheard,” Mr Murray said.
Six other sporting greats will join Alcott in the official ceremony on November 24 in Melbourne.
Olympic moguls gold medallist Dale Begg-Smith OAM and three-time Olympic basketball medallist Sandy Brondello, also made the list.
Australian Ironman champion and record eight-time winner Shannon Eckstein, four-time World Cup-winning cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, and four-time Olympic softball medallist Natalie Ward were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Coach
Barry Dancer was also recognised for his role guiding men’s hockey team the Kookaburras to their historic first ever gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games.
Alcott is the 11th Paralympian to be included in the nation’s sporting Hall of Fame.
The previous Paralympian champions to receive the honour are Kurt Fearnley, Louise Sauvage, Liesl Tesch, Libby Kosmala, Troy Sachs, Priya Cooper, Frank Ponta, Matt Cowdrey, David Hall and Michael Milton.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- Paralympian: an athlete who competes in the Paralympic Games, which are held for athletes with disabilities
- Grand slam: winning all four major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and the Paralympic gold medal in the same calendar year
- Golden slam: a grand slam, winning all four major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and the Paralympic gold medal in the same calendar year
- Advocate: a person who publicly supports a cause or group
- Philanthropist: a person who gives money to important causes or helps people in need
- Rewarding: to give something of value and recognition, to someone in return for good hard work, service, or achievement
- inducted: added into
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QUICK QUIZ
- When did Dylan receive the Officer of the Order of Australia?
- How many sport champions will be inducted into the Sport Hall of Fame?
- How did Dylan feel about this recognition?
- What was Dylan’s historic achievement in 2021?
- What did Paralympics Australia chief executive say about Dylan?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Write the Speech
Imagine that you have been asked to give the speech at Dylan’s Hall of Fame ceremony. Write what you would say to explain why Dylan has been chosen for this honour. Use information from the story and perhaps your research skills to help you.
Time allowed: Spend at least 25 minutes on this activity.
Curriculum links: English, Health and Physical Education
2. Extension
‘Sport saved my life.’ Why do you think Dylan said that? Write a paragraph explaining why. Use information from the story to help you.
Time allowed: Spend at least 30 minutes on this activity
Curriculum links: English, Health and Physical Education Personal and Social Capability.
VCOP ACTIVITY
I’ve always wanted to know
If you had the opportunity to talk to one of the athletes and ask them five questions, what would you ask them?
Come up with five different questions. Challenge yourself to use different question stems (question openers words) to write your questions, and don’t forget to end with a question mark.