Curtis McGrath has been named the male Para-athlete of the year at the 2019 Australian Institute of Sport Performance Awards

Gold Coast based Paralympic canoe champion Curtis McGrath has capped off another outstanding season to be named the male Para-athlete of the year at the 2019 Australian Institute of Sport Performance Awards.

GOLD Coast based Paralympic canoe champion Curtis McGrath has capped off another outstanding season to be named the male Para-athlete of the year at the 2019 Australian Institute of Sport Performance Awards.

Curtis McGrath celebrates his champion season with the Male Para-athlete of the Year Award at The AIS Sport Performance Awards. Picture supplied.

The war veteran turned sporting star lived up to expectations in 2019 by successfully defending his KL2 200m and VL3 200m world titles at the 2019 ICF Para-canoe World Championships in Hungary, his ninth and 10th consecutive world titles.

The 31-year-old appears well placed to defend his KL200 Paralympic gold medal at the 2020 Paralympics after drawing the curtain on 2019 with gold in the VL3 200m and silver in the KL200m at the Olympic test event in Tokyo.

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With the Vaa’ outrigger canoe events premiering on the Paralympic program in Tokyo 2020, McGrath will have the chance to go for double gold at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next year.

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“It’s amazing to be recognised for the work and time and effort that everyone else has put into the sport for me as well,” McGrath said.

“I’ve been among the finalists a few times for this award and it’s nice to finally get one and I’m very honoured.

“A lot of work goes into an award like this and just getting the boat across the line and qualifying for the Paralympics was the main goal this year and to come away with the double gold and the tenth world championship was really special.”

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