"VAN" (Olympic Desk - Paris, France - 08.09.2024) :: Defending Para canoe champion Curtis McGrath has some shiny show and tell for his newborn baby son – a gold medal from the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
McGrath crossed the line in 41.31 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s David Phillipson and Mykola Syniuk from Ukraine in the Kayak Single 200m KL2 at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium.
He won the same event at the Tokyo and Rio Games.
The 36-year-old became a father in July and his son Monty had a rare congenital heart defect known as transposition of the great arteries and needed open heart surgery.
"Crossing the line (I did think about my son),” McGrath told reporters after his victory.
“His and my wife's names are written on my boat, and it's a nice reminder that they're along here in spirit with me.”
There were a lot of emotions in the lead-up to race day, he noted.
In addition to focusing on his competition, he’s been busy offering emotional support to his wife, Rachel, back home as she cares for Monty, who was discharged from the hospital last week.
“I’m just so proud to produce a performance just for them,” he said.
The military veteran lost both his legs while serving as a combat engineer for the Australian Army in Afghanistan in 2012.
Along with his brother and father, a crew of former Australian Army buddies who he served with in Afghanistan and East Timor came to Paris to cheer him on.
"They were the ones carrying my stretcher and putting the tourniquets on and literally saving my life,” he said.
“In the traumatic moment of that blast, they were with me and they are still supporting me. It was very special to have them here.”
Cr-PARALYMPICS
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