Description
Dylan Alcott AO is a motivational speaker, Paralympic champion and one of Australia’s most accomplished athletes. As a leading advocate for inclusion and accessibility, he is also a four-time Paralympic gold medallist and a 15-time Grand Slam singles champion. In 2021 he made history with the Golden Slam. In fact, he became the first male athlete in any form of tennis to win all four Grand Slams and Paralympic gold in the same year.
Dylan came into the world with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord. Despite this, he became a Paralympic champion in two sports. First, he won gold in wheelchair basketball at Beijing 2008. He then moved to wheelchair tennis, where he won Paralympic singles gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, plus doubles gold in Rio. Along the way he collected 15 Grand Slam singles titles. In 2016 he also became the first wheelchair athlete to win the Newcombe Medal. Finally, he retired from professional tennis after the 2022 Australian Open.
Dylan Alcott Motivational Speaker: Purpose Beyond the Court
Off the court, Dylan is an entrepreneur and advocate. He founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation, which funds scholarships, grants and mentoring for young Australians with disability. He also co-founded Get Skilled Access, a social enterprise that helps organisations become more accessible and inclusive. In addition, he launched Ability Fest, Australia’s first fully accessible music festival.
The nation has recognised his work at the highest level. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2009 and became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2022. That same year, he also became the first person with a visible disability to win Australian of the Year.
Today, as a motivational speaker, Dylan Alcott shares powerful insights on resilience, leadership, inclusion and purpose. He is funny, honest and direct. As a result, audiences leave ready to challenge their limits, embrace diversity and create meaningful change. Read more about his career on Wikipedia, or browse our full range of motivational keynote speakers.
Keynote Topics
Overcoming Extreme Adversity
Dylan grew up without the use of his legs. Yet he beat the odds and achieved far more than doctors ever expected. In this keynote, he shares how he grew into one of Australia’s most recognisable and successful Paralympians.
Becoming the Best Version of Yourself
Dylan makes the most of the situation life handed him. For this reason, he shows audiences why focusing on the things they can control is the key to living a full and incredible life.
The Art of Taking Risks to Achieve Your Goals
Dylan firmly believes that you have to buy a ticket to win the raffle. Through his own stories, he explains why pushing outside your comfort zone is essential to achieving your dreams.
Disability Awareness and Education
Dylan is passionate about changing perceptions of people with disability around the world. Above all, he advocates for social inclusion and for inclusion in the workplace. He also works to break down the negative stigma attached to disability.
Diversity and Leadership in the Disability Sector
Dylan speaks on why leadership and representation matter in the disability sector. Moreover, he shows organisations how diverse leadership strengthens teams, culture and results.
