Dylan Alcott has been named Australian of the Year and awarded an Officer of the Order (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List for distinguished service to Paralympic sport, particularly to tennis, and as a role model for people with a disability, and to the community through a range of organisations.
“Congratulations to Dylan Alcott, from all of us at Tennis, on being named Australian of the Year,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.
“We are incredibly fortunate Dylan chose tennis as we’ve had the opportunity to see first-hand his great sense of humour, sharp intellect and his incredible work ethic and drive to succeed in all aspects of his life.
“His advocacy for people with a disability is a force to behold. He has the power to change the world and is not afraid to use it.
“For a long time we’ve known that Dylan’s influence reaches far beyond the tennis court or the sports stadium. He has a magnificent ability to engage with all people that transcends tennis, and sport.
“The whole tennis community is delighted he has been recognised with this great honour,” Tiley continued.
In a whirlwind day for the 31-year-old, Alcott won his spot in the Australian Open quad wheelchair singles final before flying to Canberra to attend the awards ceremony.
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On Thursday Alcott will play his last competitive match before retiring from the sport, chasing his eighth consecutive AO title, against rival Sam Schroder (NED) in the AO Quad Wheelchair final.
World No.1 and 2020 Young Australian of the Year Ash Barty was quick to congratulate Dylan, with the announcement coming shortly after she won her Australian Open quarterfinal match at Rod Laver Arena.
“What an incredible human being, genuinely,” Barty enthused.
“He's an incredible athlete … but an absolutely incredible man first. The way he's impacted the whole nation has been absolutely remarkable and I couldn't be more rapt for him to be Australian of the Year, absolutely unreal.”