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Paralympics 2024: Kayaking legend Curtis McGrath dedicates gold to newborn son Monty who is recovering from heart surgery

Paralympic legend Curtis McGrath cruised to his third K1 kayaking gold in a row but his thoughts were on home where his newborn son Monty is recovering from heart surgery.

Curtis Mcgrath celebrates gold during the Para Canoe - Men's Kayak Single 200m - KL2 medal ceremony. Picture: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Curtis Mcgrath celebrates gold during the Para Canoe - Men's Kayak Single 200m - KL2 medal ceremony. Picture: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Reunited with the soldiers who saved his life on the battlefield, Australian Paralympic legend Curtis McGrath has dedicated his latest gold medal winning performance to his wife and their newborn son, who is back home recovering from open heart surgery.

Unbeatable on the water, McGrath cruised to victory in his kayak race at Paris on Saturday night, winning the K1 singles event for the third time in a row after triumphing in Rio and Paris.

But as he sang the national anthem on the podium again, his thoughts turned to his wife Rachel and their son Monty, who were unable to accompany him to France because he needed an operation after he was born in July with a rare heart condition.

“He’s doing well, at home watching TV,” McGrath said.

“He doesn’t have any idea what’s going on, but I’m very proud of them and what they’ve been able to achieve while I’ve been over here doing my thing as well.”

Curtis McGrath cruises to gold.
Curtis McGrath cruises to gold.

While the surgery was a success, McGrath said it was difficult leaving his wife and child behind when he flew to Europe to finalise his preparation for the Paralympics.

“It was one of the hardest goodbyes I’ve had to do,” McGrath said.

“To come over here for this prep and then into the Games, checking with them but not getting too distracted because there’s so much going on at home, it has been difficult.

“I’m not just here representing Australia, I’m representing my family and friends. It’s a special honour to do that and I felt the weight of them, indirectly, and I’m just so proud to produce a performance just for them.”

McGrath did have some other family members watching from the stands in Paris as well as his best mates, who saved his life when he stepped on a landmine while serving with the Australian Army in Afghanistan.

He famously made a pledge to them, at the same time he was airlifted from the war zone, that he would one day be a Paralympian and true to his word, he’s done that, establishing himself as the best para-canoeist on the planet.

“They’re the ones carrying my stretcher and putting the tourniquets on and literally saving my life,” he said.

“They’re all there and were a part of that journey of recovery and rehabilitation and obviously in the traumatic moment of that blast, they were with me and are still here supporting me.

“It’s very special to have them here as well.”

Curtis McGrath in action.
Curtis McGrath in action.

As well as winning K1, McGrath also won gold in the Va’a event in Tokyo and will defend that event in Paris on Sunday night before focusing all his energy on one last shot at an unprecedented fourth K1 title at Los Angeles in 2028.

“I don’t think I’ll be doing Brisbane (2032),” he said. “But I’ll do one more Games in the kayak.”

Australia completed a gold, silver and bronze medal sweep in a 45-minute blitz.

Dylan Littlehales, also competing in kayak, won silver in his category and Susan Seipel won bronze in the women’s Va’a.

Originally published as Paralympics 2024: Kayaking legend Curtis McGrath dedicates gold to newborn son Monty who is recovering from heart surgery

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympics-2024-kayaking-legend-curtis-mcgrath-dedicates-gold-to-newborn-son-monty-who-is-recovering-from-heart-surgery/news-story/b4eed3491a634bd896d16f30f9201ff1