Who is Kurt Fearnley?
Kurt Fearnley is an Australian wheelchair racer who won three Paralympic gold medals and many marathons around the world. He is also known for crawling the Kokoda Track to raise awareness for men's health.
Fearnley was born in 1981 in Cowra, New South Wales, without the lower part of his spine. He grew up in the small town of Carcoar and began wheelchair racing as a teenager.
He won three Paralympic gold medals, including the marathon at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. He also won the New York, Chicago and London marathons.
Crawling Kokoda
In 2009, Fearnley crawled the 96-kilometre Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, raising money and awareness for men's health and disability issues.
He was named New South Wales Australian of the Year in 2019 and has served as a disability advocate. He carried the Australian flag at the 2018 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
Fearnley has worked as a commentator and was appointed chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency board. He is admired for his determination and advocacy for people with disabilities.