NSW Champions of Sport – Kurt Fearnley OAM

Join us as we celebrate the past winners of the NSW Sports Awards spanning over 20 years of sporting excellence and achievement – as we countdown to the inaugural NSW Champions of Sport, where, for the first time, the induction of new entrants into the NSW Hall of Champions will be combined with the NSW Sports Awards in one gala ceremony. 

In the lead up to the event, we will look back to our past crowned NSW Athlete of the Year and NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability winners as they share their great joys and triumphs as well as life post their ‘dream year’ with successes both on and off the field.

Sport: Wheelchair Track & Road (T54)
NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009

Kurt Fearnley is one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes Australia has ever produced.

Kurt was the winner of the NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability four times becoming the second athlete to do so – winning the award in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

In his career he has represented Australia at the Paralympics five times winning at least one medal in each of the Games for a career total of 13 Paralympic medals, competed at two Commonwealth Games, two International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships and raced in various marathons around the world.

After five years of competing locally, Kurt made his international debut at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and won two silver medals in the 800m (T54) and 4x100 relay. Kurt also finished fourth in the 1,500m demonstration race at the 2000 Olympic Games.

On his second attempt at Paralympic gold competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Kurt claimed the crown in the 5,000m race, setting a Paralympic record, and also went on to win gold in the Marathon – a title he defended in winning gold in the marathon again in Beijing in 2008.

Not only did Kurt win NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability for his success at the 2004 Paralympic Games, he also received a medal of the Order of Australia in the 2005 Australia Day Honours for his service to sport as a gold medallist.

2006 was seen as one of his most successful years as he competed at the 2006 IPC World Championships in Assen, Holland, where he won three gold medals in the 800m, 5,000m and the marathon. It was also the year Kurt won his first New York City Marathon setting a course record which stands to this day.

2009 brought Kurt personal achievements on and off the track. He won his first London Marathon, setting a course record in the process which also remains unbeaten.  Off the track Kurt completed the Kokoda Track by crawling the entire trail in just ten days.

Kurt’s record in marathons around the world is simply astounding. Alongside his Paralympic victories are more than 25 wins around the world with multiple wins in the most prestigious marathons including New York, London, Chicago, Seoul, Paris and Sydney.

Kurt is known to refer to himself as someone who’s “biggest strength is that I deal with discomfort better than most.” The fire continues to burn to compete at the international level as Kurt is currently preparing to compete at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the marathon.

The cream of NSW Sports stars from both past and present will be celebrated at the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony to be held at Rosehill Gardens on Monday 27 November 2017.

For more information on the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony and to secure your seat visit: www.sportnsw.com.au/2017ChampionsofSport