CURTIS McGRATH
Paracanoe
One of the world’s most inspirational athletes, Curtis McGrath, celebrated another golden year on the water in 2017 winning a further two world titles. McGrath won the VL2 and the KL2, in Racice, Czech Republic, exactly five years after the landmine incident in Afghanistan which led to him losing both his legs. He also notched a first and a second in indoor rowing at the Invictus Games in Toronto. This soldier, hero, champion sportsman is no stranger to this Gold Coast award, he won the inaugural one in 2014 and was winner again in 2016.
KATIE KELLY
Paratriathlon
2017 was another stellar year for paratriathlete Katie Kelly. Suffering from a degenerative disease, which has left her legally blind since 2015, Kelly has forged to the top of her chosen sport. She won her first world championship in 2015, Paralympic gold in 2016 and in 2017 again won the world championship. Her guide for all three ‘majors’ has been former world triathlon champion and Sydney 2000 Olympic silver medallist Michellie Jones.
