Curtis McGrath, Paralympic champ, awaits birth of first child ahead of gold medal defence in Paris

Paralympic team captain Curtis McGrath will finish preparations for the defence of his two gold medals at home before jetting into Paris just before the Games. Find out why inside.

Paralympic team captain Curtis McGrath will complete preparations for the defence of his two gold medals from home before jetting into Paris just before the Games as he and wife Rachel await the birth of their first child.

McGrath, who won gold in Rio just four years after becoming a double amputee when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan in 2012, added another two gold to his tally in Tokyo.

Paralympics Australia announced the first members of its Paralympic team on Saturday, with McGrath, Susan Seipel and Dylan Littlehales all named as members of the Paracanoe team for Paris.

Paracanoe representatives (from left) Curtis McGrath, Dylan Littlehales and Susan Seipel receive their boarding passes and berets after being the first athletes names to Australia’s Paralympic team.

While Seipel and Littlehales will head overseas ahead of the Games to hone their preparations in World Cup competition, McGrath will stay in Australia to train at the Australian Institute of Sport base on the Gold Coast to ensure he is by Rachel’s side when the pair become first-time parents.

Rachel is due in late July just weeks before the Paralympics begin and McGrath is determined to be on hand for their “exciting new chapter”.

“I think it’s the opening ceremony of the Olympics,” McGrath said.

“So really poor timing on our part but at the same time some things can’t wait and you’ve got to get on with it and it’s an exciting new chapter and a I’m a new dad, so I won’t know what to do or say, or anything, so it’s gonna be exciting.

“It’s a pretty cool thing to happen.”

McGrath is the most successful Australian athlete in paracanoe competition after it was added to the Games calendar in 2016, where just kayak events were open to competitors.

The va’a canoe category was added in Tokyo and McGrath won gold in the new event, as well as defending his kayak title to write himself into Australia’s Paralympic folklore.

Paracanoe coach Ann Wood said she had no doubt McGrath would be ready.

Curtis McGrath celebrates his Gold medal after he competes in the Canoe Sprint Men's Va'a Single 200m - VL3 Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

“Curt is one of those really committed athletes and I have no doubt at all that he can come in a couple of weeks later (and still be successful),” Wood said.

“We’ll make sure he’s being supported here in the daily training environment.

“Knowing Curt, he just sets his goals for every session and just ticks every box.

“He’s a very determined athlete.”

McGrath realises it will be a challenge but he’s excited to take on the best.

“With that target on my back with the two golds from Tokyo (competition) is going to be hot, and there’s some really strong paddlers out there,” he said.

“I’m excited to verse the best and race them at their best and my best and hopefully we can put it all together and hopefully be on top of the podium.”

Wood has an outstanding squad for Paris, with Seipel and Littlehales, who both head into their third Games, outstanding medal chances.

Seipel won Australia’s first medal in the sport with bronze in the KL2 in Rio before taking to the canoe in Tokyo and winning silver.

She will compete in both craft again in Paris.

“I got a bronze in Rio and then a silver in Tokyo, so there’s just one more I need to add to my collection, which would be the ultimate,” Seipel said.

“Of course I’m going to do my best and give it my all to go after gold.”

Littlehales, who headed to his first Games in Rio at just 16, is the defending world champion in the KL3 class and out to claim his first Paralympic medal in Paris.

Curtis McGrath with his gold medals from the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Picture: Nigel Hallett

As well as preparing for his own classification, Littlehales trains alongside McGrath, pushing the Paralympic champ daily and helping him hone his Paris preparation without international competition.

Littlehales will head overseas with the rest of the paracanoe team but the work he does with McGrath in the lead-up could determine how well each of them goes at the Games.

“It’s very, very productive because unlike most athletes in that situation, we’re not directly competing against each other,” Littlehales said of training with McGrath, who races in the KL2 class.

“So it takes off a bit of that edge when you lose an effort to each other.

“(On times), Curt tied with the second place in the KL3 last year, so he would have had a dead heat if he was in our race, so he’s that sort of benchmark where the competition was last year.

“So my goal is to just stay as far ahead of him as I can, while dragging him up, to try to keep him above them.

“I know that if I’m in front of him, then I’ve got a good chance (of gold).

“We’re working well together, we bring each other up.”

Originally published as Curtis McGrath, Paralympic champ, awaits birth of first child ahead of gold medal defence in Paris