Dylan_Alcott

Dylan Alcott

Dylan Alcott

Australian wheelchair athlete (born 1990)

Dylan Martin Alcott, AO (born 4 December 1990) is an Australian former wheelchair tennis player, former wheelchair basketball player, radio host and motivational speaker. Alcott was a member of the Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team, known colloquially as the Australian "Rollers". At the age of 17, he became the youngest Rollers gold medal winner, at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and was the youngest to compete in the wheelchair basketball competition. In 2014, he returned to wheelchair tennis with the aim of participating at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, at which he won gold medals in the Men's Quad Singles and Doubles. He was named the 2016 Australian Paralympian of the Year due to his outstanding achievements at Rio.

Quick Facts Country (sports), Residence ...

Alcott is the only man to complete the Golden Slam in quad singles, winning all four majors and the Paralympics in 2021. In addition, he also won a separate non-calendar-year Grand Slam in quad singles between 2018 and 2019. He is also the only man to complete the Grand Slam in quad doubles, winning all four major titles in 2019.

Alongside his sporting career, Alcott hosted the weekend afternoon radio show on Australian radio station Triple J, and the ABC live music show The Set, as well as being a commentator for the 2019 Australian Open. He also was a member of the panel on the AFL Footy Show in 2019 until its cancellation.

In 2022, Alcott was named Australian of the Year and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.[1] A portrait by Felix von Dallwitz titled Dylan Alcott, AOTY was a finalist in the 2022 Archibald Prize.[2]

Early life

Dylan Alcott was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 4 December 1990[3] to parents Martin and Resie. He has an older brother named Zack.[4] He was born with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord which was operated on during the first few weeks of his life.[5] The tumour was successfully cut out; however, it left Alcott a paraplegic, requiring him to use a wheelchair.

Alcott attended Brighton Grammar School from year 6, and he competed for Victoria in swimming, and Australia for wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. Alcott graduated Brighton Grammar school in 2008.[5]

Alcott's first sport of choice was wheelchair tennis, where he represented Australia on numerous occasions, reaching a ranking of 100 in the world by age 16 (4th in the world for under-18s).

Basketball

Alcott in a game versus Great Britain

Alcott played his first game of wheelchair basketball aged 14.[4] Alcott made his debut for the Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, at the 2006 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship, where the team won the bronze medal. 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 made his name in basketball through his performances in the national league competition, competing for the Dandenong Rangers (no affiliation with the female team of the same name) and being selected in the all-star team for 2008. He has achieved success through junior competition as well, being named the Most Valuable Player at the Junior National Basketball Championships.[6]

Alcott was part of the gold medal-winning Rollers team at the 2008 Summer Paralympics,[7][8] for which he received a Medal of the Order of Australia.[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]

In 2009, Alcott accepted a scholarship at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he went on to win the College Championship division with the University of Illinois wheelchair basketball team. After one year of study, he decided to move back to Melbourne to train for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

In 2010, Alcott was a part of the Rollers' success at the 2010 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Birmingham, England. It was the first world championship the Australian wheelchair basketball team had ever won, and Alcott was named in the World All Star 5 for the tournament.

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Alcott was part of the Australian men's wheelchair team that won silver.[11]

Tennis

Alcott during the 2014 Swiss Open in Geneva

In 2014, Alcott returned to wheelchair tennis.[12] At the age of 16, he was ranked inside the top five juniors in the world.[12] In July 2014, he defeated world number three Andy Lapthorne 7–5, 6–1 in the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship final in Nottingham to win his first Super Series crown.[13] Early in the year, he won the New Zealand Open in just his second tournament appearance.[13] In January 2015, he won the quad wheelchair Australian Open title by defeating David Wagner in straight sets.[14] It was his maiden grand slam title.[14] At the conclusion on 2015, he was ranked number 1 after winning eight titles including two grand slam singles titles.[15]

Alcott teamed up with Heath Davidson to win the Men's Quad Doubles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.[3][16] They defeated the reigning champions David Wagner and Nick Taylor in the gold medal match 4–6, 6–4, 7–5.[3] The day after winning gold in the Men's Doubles, he defeated Andy Lapthorne 6–3, 6–4 to win the gold medal in the Men's Quad Singles.[3]

In 2018, Alcott won his first Wheelchair Tennis Masters title in the Quads singles event.[17]

Golden Slam: 2021

In 2021, Alcott became the third professional tennis player and only male player to win the calendar-year Golden Slam, winning singles titles in the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and the singles gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. He joined fellow professional wheelchair tennis player Diede de Groot in achieving the feat in 2021. They were the first two professional tennis players since Steffi Graf in 1988 to accomplish the feat.

After winning the Paralympics gold medal, Alcott announced he would not be featuring in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, retiring from the competition.[18] In November 2021, Alcott announced his intention to retire from professional tennis entirely following the January 2022 Australian Open.[19]

Television presenting

Alcott has hosted Invictus Games Today, alongside Chris Bath and Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann, and ABC's live music show The Set with Linda Marigliano. He is a TV Week Logie award winner.[20]

Personal life

Alcott's return to wheelchair tennis after playing basketball resulted from an injury sustained in the lead-up to the 2012 Summer Paralympics. At an event, an inebriated person attempted to lift Alcott out of his wheelchair, leading to a fall in which Alcott sustained cuts from broken glass on the floor. He required a full hand reconstruction; once rehabilitated, he became eligible for a quad classification in tennis.[21]

Alcott has a Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne. He currently works as a motivational speaker and as a radio host on Triple J.[22] In his spare time, Alcott attends music festivals, and he has become known for his "wheelchair crowdsurfing".[23] In 2018, he launched Ability Fest, a universally accessible music festival, featuring pathways for wheelchairs, quiet areas for people with sensory disabilities, and Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreters.[24]

Alcott's advice to young people with a disability is: "The biggest thing is that for every one thing you can't do, there are 10,000 others you can. For every one idiot to give you a hard time, there are 10,000 others worth your time."[4]

In 2017, Alcott established the Dylan Alcott Foundation "with the core purpose of helping young Australians with disabilities gain self-esteem and respect through sport and study".[25] In September 2017, Alcott was appointed Australian Patron for International Day of People with Disability.[26]

Alcott's autobiography, Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams and Smashing Glass Ceilings, written with help by Grantlee Kieza, was published by ABC Books in 2018.[27] Alcott has also released the book in audiobook form, reading the book himself.[28]

Alcott's partner is sex therapist Chantelle Otten.[29]

On 10 October 2023, Alcott was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum, initiated by psychiatrist Patrick McGorry.[30][31]

Tennis career statistics

Performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(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); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through 2021 US Open.

Quad singles

More information Tournament, SR ...

    Quad doubles

    More information Tournament, SR ...
    1. Exhibition match.

    Grand Slam finals

    Quad singles: 18 (15 titles, 3 runner-ups)

    More information Result, Year ...

    Quad doubles: 19 (8 titles, 11 runner-ups)

    More information Result, Year ...

    Paralympic gold medal matches

    Quad singles: 2 (2 Gold medals)

    More information Result, Year ...

    Quad doubles: 2 (1 Gold medal, 1 Silver medal)

    More information Result, Year ...

    Recognition

    References

    1. [1]
      Brennan, Eliott (26 January 2022). "Paralympic gold medallist Dylan Alcott makes more history after being named Australian of the Year". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
    2. [2]
      "Archibald Prize Archibald 2022 work: Dylan Alcott, AOTY by Felix von Dallwitz". Art Gallery of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
    3. [3]
      "Dylan Alcott". Rio Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
    4. [4]
      McLachlan, Hamish (7 November 2015). "Hamish McLachlan: What you didn't know about paralympian Dylan Alcott". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
    5. [5]
      A c h i e v i n g S u c c e s s I n L i f e, L e a r n i n g & S p o r t : Eight School Aged Athletes Share Their Journey. Melbourne: Victorian Institute of Sport. 2008.
    6. [6]
      "Dylan Alcott | Sport Australia Hall of Fame". Retrieved 26 September 2021.
    7. [7]
      McGarry, Andrew (4 September 2008). "Event guide: Wheelchair basketball". ABC. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
    8. [8]
      "Basketball Chronology". Basketball Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
    9. [9]
      "Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)". ABC News. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
    10. [10]
      "Athlete Profile – Dylan Alcott". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
    11. [11]
      "Men's Wheelchair Basketball Results". London 2012 Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
    12. [12]
      "Australia's Dylan Alcott returns to first love". International Paralympic Committee News, 10 February. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
    13. [13]
      "Dylan Alcott wins the British Open Tennis Crown". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
    14. [14]
      Morgan, Liam (31 January 2015). "Alcott claims maiden Grand Slam title in front of home crowd at Australian Open". Inside the Games, 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
    15. [15]
      "Fan favourite Alcott defends quad wheelchair title". AustralianTennis Open website. Retrieved 30 January 2016.[permanent dead link]
    16. [16]
      "Paralympic glory in sight for Australia's wheelchair tennis athletes". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
    17. [17]
      "Dylan Alcott wins first title". Paralympics. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
    18. [18]
      Healey, Catherine (4 September 2021). "Tokyo Paralympics: Australian tennis star Dylan Alcott reveals he won't feature at Paris Games in 2024". www.thewest.com.au.
    19. [19]
      "Dylan Alcott to retire after 2022 Australian Open". The Age. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
    20. [20]
      Dylan Alcott
    21. [21]
      "Everything happens for a reason: lunch with Dylan Alcott". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
    22. [22]
      Wilmoth, Peter (17 July 2017). "The extraordinary life of paralympian-turned-DJ Dylan Alcott". The Weekly Review. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    23. [23]
      Te Koha, Nui (14 December 2014). "Paralympian Dylan Alcott wows crowd at Meredith Music Festival". Herald-Sun. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    24. [24]
      Asher, Nicole (7 April 2018). "Melbourne's first Ability Fest launched by Paralympian Dylan Alcott". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
    25. [25]
      "What we do". Dylan Alcott Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
    26. [26]
      "Dylan Alcott announced as Patron for International Day of People with Disability". Dept. of Social Services website. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
    27. [27]
      Alcott, Dylan; Kieza, Grantlee (2018). Able : gold medals, grand slams and smashing glass ceilings. Sydney, NSW : ABC Books. ISBN 9780733339875. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
    28. [28]
      "Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams and Smashing Glass Ceilings (Audio Download): Dylan Alcott, Dylan Alcott, Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd: Amazon.com.au: Books". www.amazon.com.au. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
    29. [29]
      "Dylan Alcott's partner Chantelle Otten shares sex confession about the couple's first time". News.com.au. 20 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
    30. [30]
      Butler, Josh (11 October 2023). "Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a 'shameful dead end'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    31. [31]
      Winter, Velvet (10 October 2023). "Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    32. [32]
      McGowan, Marc (24 November 2015). "Dylan Alcott's Newcombe medal snub a bad look following Kyrgios/Tomic excuse". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
    33. [33]
      "Australian Tennis Awards Honour Roll". Tennis Australia website. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
    34. [34]
      "Victorian Champion Wins VIS Sport Of Excellence Award". Minister of Sport and Recreation Media Releasr. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
    35. [35]
      "The Best of the Best Honoured at the Victorian Sports Awards". Best of the Best Honoured at the Victorian Sports Awards. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    36. [36]
      "'The Don' 2016 Finalists Announced". Sport Australia Hall of Fame website. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
    37. [37]
      "Alcott crowned Paralympian of the Year". Australian Paralympic Committee News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    38. [38]
      "Six inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame". Australian Paralympic Committee. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
    39. [39]
      "Alcott awarded 2016 Newcombe Medal". Tennis Australia website. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
    40. [40]
      "Mighty Mack wins Award of Excellence". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
    41. [41]
      "Alcott named ITF wheelchair quad world champion". Tennis Australia website. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
    42. [42]
      Idato, Michael (30 June 2019). "ABC, Ten win big, Tom Gleeson takes gold at Logie Awards". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
    43. [43]
      "James goes back-to-back". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Retrieved 21 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
    44. [44]
      "Australian Tennis Awards winners honoured in Melbourne". Tennis Australia. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
    45. [45]
      "Dylan Alcott". Australian of the Year Awards. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
    46. [46]
      "2021 Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs)". VicSport. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
    47. [47]
      "Paralympian and disability advocate Dylan Alcott named 2022 Australian of the Year". ABC News. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    48. [48]
      "Australia Day 2022 Honours List" (PDF). Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    Listen to this article (2 minutes)
    Spoken Wikipedia icon
    This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 1 January 2012 (2012-01-01), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
    (Audio help · More spoken articles)
    Quick Facts External videos ...
    Share this article:

    This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Dylan_Alcott, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.