Australian Open 2022: Dylan Alcott opens up on his journey, breaking barriers and the three things he’d tell his 10-year-old self

From hating his disability to flying on a private jet and doing pants-off interviews with national TV, Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott’s story is simply incredible and one we must all cherish.

With a private jet and pants-off interviews, Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott is preparing to return to tournament mode.

Alcott, who will on Thursday launch his assault on a ninth Australian Open title in what tennis authorities hope will be the most-watch wheelchair match in history, flew back to Melbourne late on Tuesday night on a chartered flight and is straight back to business.

He rose early on Wednesday morning for countless media interviews – conducted poolside and without pants, as captured by his manager, as he reiterated his passionate platform for people with a disability.

“I’ll keep doing it ‘til the day I die,” he declared on Nine.

There’ll be a press conference at Melbourne Park on Wednesday morning before he returns to training ahead of Thursday’s Australian Open final against Sam Schroeder.

Alcott, who said all he wanted as a kid was to “be Pat Rafter”.

I just hated myself so much as a kid. Like, I hated myself, hated my disability, hated being different,” he said.

Dylan Alcott is our Australian of the Year.

“I wanted to be a tennis player, I wanted to be Pat Rafter, I couldn’t be Pat Rafter. I didn’t see anybody like me.”

And while tennis has been his vehicle for change, it’s been about more than what happens on court.

“I think about my first ever tennis tournament, it was at a place outside of Albury, it wasn’t the tennis,” he said.

“I got there, saw a guy in a wheelchair driving a car. I didn’t know you could do that. He had a wife and kids. I didn’t know you could do that. He was having a beer. I didn’t know you could do that. He was most importantly smiling and happy and I wasn’t and it showed me that there is a life out there that I can start living and I said, ‘You know what, I’m not going to listen to that stigma and that unconscious bias that people put on me and tell me that my life’s going to be hard and tell me I’m not worth living and tell me I’m not worth living and tell me I’m never going to have and tell me I’m never going to have a partner or have a job or do anything’.

“I’m going to get out there and do the best I can, and for me, as soon as I became proud of my disability, everybody around me became proud of my disability as well and started embracing it.”

THE BACK STORY

Dylan Alcott’s phone doesn’t stop pinging with Instagram direct messages.

With more than 187,000 followers, that’s probably to be expected.

Say “Dylan” around town and everyone knows who you mean.

But instead of the typical messages of support – or the occasional sledge – there’s something deeper.

It never ceases to surprise him.

Or stump the man who is rarely lost for words and was crowned Australian of the Year on Tuesday night.

Dylan Alcott is lost for words by some of the replies he receives.

“I don’t really know how to reply,” Alcott told News Corp.

“Some people are like ‘I have a disabled child, and I didn’t really know how to go about it, and now I’ve seen you and it’s changed my own perception of my kid – now I have hope for them’.

“And I’m like, wow, that makes me cry.

“Then there’s people saying ‘I’ve never been on a date before and had sex, and now I’ve gone on a date and I just wanted to let you know, I’ve just got engaged to my partner’.”

Alcott, 31, says he is surprised “Every. Single. Day” by his impact.

He was born to Resie and Martin in 1990, a little brother to Zack, with what his dad once described as “a lump the size of my fist on his back”.

It was a tumour, wrapped around his spine.

There was surgery to remove it, the little baby just a few weeks old. He was left a paraplegic.

Bullied as a kid, by his own admission overweight.

He found sport, which changed his life. There was basketball – a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympics with the Australian Rollers, a college scholarship and a world championship victory.

Alcott wipes away tears after winning the 2019 Australian Open final. Picture: Michael Klein

Then tennis, which he’d played as a youngster and which he has since made his own.

Alcott competes in the quad category, which is for athletes with restrictions in the playing arm.

He’s also just about the busiest man at Melbourne Park at the moment, with television commitments, hilarious courtside interviews, sponsor obligations and countless selfies with punters. He even interrupted his preparations for his final match to head to Canberra on Tuesday night to accept the country’s highest honour.

Before the tournament, Alcott flagged that he’d be in for “the biggest party of all time” once it’s over.

“Before the Australian Open I was saying that, but now I’m going to have the biggest sleep of all time, because I’m wrecked,” he laughed.

“It’s the celebration of what we have achieved – it’s not just me. It’s my role (to play) in this, but it’s my family, my friends, my team. It’s also the public, the media – everyone’s gotten behind my journey and I think we’re kind of smashing glass ceilings together for my mates with a disability.

"Where do you keep your gold medal?" 🥇

"That's actually a good question..." 😳

Dylan Alcott wasn't expecting this response!#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/SmKSQAJee8

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 19, 2022

“When I say a big party, it is. It’s a celebration and obviously I’m going to try and win this week, but I actually want to enjoy it, because it’s my last, but it’s also a celebration of what we’ve been able to achieve in what I think is, hopefully, a good case study for other sports and other media and people to follow, where they can get around more and more athletes with a disability. Because I think it is entrenched in the mainstream now, which is pretty cool.

“We’ll be drinking a few beers, too, don’t worry about that.”

Young Henry’s is the drop of choice, if they’re reading.

“But I won’t discriminate – whatever’s around. I’ll be retired – I can do what I want.”

Alcott knows he has changed the game, but even he admits the response has been greater than he ever could have envisaged.

“People think it’s the norm now, but I don’t think everyone remembers how it wasn’t the norm,” he said.

“It was my purpose to change perceptions, so that people with disabilities can live the lives they deserve to live. That was my goal.

“But did I think it would happen? Absolutely not. Did I think it would happen to this scope? Like, it has blown my mind. I go down the street down on a normal day and take 50 to 100 photos with people. It is just ridiculous. But everyone’s so lovely.

Alcott says the response he has received as a disabled athlete has overwhelmed him.

“I’m very grateful and thankful. Hopefully it’s making a difference … but I want to change perceptions not just in sport – in classrooms, in boardrooms, in education, in parliaments, in everyday life, like dating and going to bars. I am seeing more and more representation, which is awesome.

“There are so many more voices that need to be amplified and I’m excited about that happening.”

Alcott has never been in better shape as he prepares to face second seed, Dutchman, Sam Schroder, in the decider.

He knows “it could have gone one of two ways” after last year’s success.

“I could have had a few beers and dialled it in and not been at my best here, but I’ve done the opposite. I’ve gone all-in,” he said.

“I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, I’m doing PBs in the gym. Because I can see the finish line, I’m really excited. I’m not nervous, I’m more pumped.

“Pumped to celebrate, pumped to enjoy it. Pumped to share it. I am trying to win this last one, but winning grand slams isn’t my purpose. It never has been. It’s more about what I can do for my community.

Such beautiful words from you @vika7 - you are such a legend. Appreciate it so much ❤️❤️ https://t.co/dOQ2bKtYdZ

— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) January 21, 2022

“That makes me feel less nervous and more comfortable, because tennis is just a part of my life. But in saying that, I’m forever grateful to the platform. Without it, you wouldn’t know who I am.”

After his swan song, there’s an eye to acting, more work with the Dylan Alcott Foundation and his consulting firm, Get Skilled Access.

And a holiday with his girlfriend, Chantelle Otten.

“Everybody always does what I need to do. I want to do what Chantelle wants to do. I’m really excited for that, too. It’s going to be an awesome time, but I actually can’t wait,” he said.

As he embarks on his final tour – on court at least – of Melbourne Park, there’s only three things he’d like to tell his 10-year-old self.

“1. Get a better haircut,” he laughed.

“2. Move your bed out of the pantry.

And 3. I’d tell him to be proud of who he is. Everybody wants to be different – we all like different cars, different hair, different clothes. Whatever it is.

“What better way to be different than to have a disability? But that kid hated his difference.

“But as soon as he embraced his difference. His life changed immediately. Be proud of who he is … but definitely the haircut thing.”