The 15th Paralympic Games took place in Rio de Janeiro between 7 and 18 September. More than 4,000 athletes from 160 countries travelled to compete at Rio. Australia’s remarkable Team brought home a total of 81 medals: 22 gold, 30 silver and 29 bronze. Following the Games, the Australian Paralympic Committee announced wheelchair tennis champion and dual gold medallist Dylan Alcott OAM as the 2016 Paralympian of the Year.
To recognise this incredible achievement, Australia Post has released a commemorative sheetlet of 10.
Dylan Alcott was named Paralympian of the Year by the Australian Paralympic Committee, after winning two gold medals in the sport of wheelchair tennis at Rio 2016, and becoming one of only a handful of Australian Paralympians to win gold in multiple sports.
25-year-old Dylan Alcott is the undisputed champion on the tennis court. Born in Melbourne, Dylan is a strong advocate for the rights and opportunities of people with a disability and sees it as his purpose in life to help change perceptions of disability.
Dylan was part of the gold medal winning Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, for which he received a Medal of the Order of Australia. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Dylan was awarded two gold medals, collecting Australia’s first ever quads singles win on the tennis court and the first medal in the sport in 16 years, after triumphing in the quads doubles with Heath Davidson.
The Paralympian of the Year 2016 stamp sheetlets are available now from participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online, while stocks last.
Thanks to the Australian Paralympic Committee for supplying the images of Dylan.
This article was produced at the time of publication and will not be updated.
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