Australian wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott has clinched back-to-back Paralympic gold in the quad singles before breaking down in tears telling media he wouldn’t return to the Games again.
The 30-year-old’s victory kept his ‘golden slam’ dream alive but he said he would not compete in another Paralympic Games, while adding “I owe it so much” and revealing it saved his life.
After taking home gold in the quad singles at the Rio Games of 2016, Alcott defeated Dutchman Sam Schroder in Tokyo, winning 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.
“I’ve worked really hard for this,” an emotional Alcott said after the win.
“I’m not coming back to the Paralympics ever again. I love the Paralympics so much, it means so much to me.
“Paralympics sport saved my life – honestly it did. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I owe it so much.
“When I was 17 I got to go with the Rollers (to Beijing in 2008) and we won gold and it was lifechanging.
“I just took a moment out there to look around because I’m just so thankful and grateful that it came into my life and that I can perform on the big stage and do it with my friends and change perceptions on the way about what people think of us – people with disabilities.
“And not just as athletes. Hopefully this is changing perceptions beyond that. Not every person with a disability can be a Paralympian.
“But they can be a doctor, a lawyer, a mum, a dad, a teacher, an educator, politician – whatever it is. But they often don’t get the opportunities to play sport. And that’s what we’re trying to do.
“It means that much to me, it’s huge and to get it done today was bloody awesome.”
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Schroder controlled the early games of the Tokyo quad singles final, breaking serve to take a 5-3 lead in the first set, but Alcott forced a tie-break and won the decider 7-2.
The former wheelchair basketballer then showed his exceptional class in breezing through the second set to win 6-1.
Alcott is now set to depart Japan for the USA, only requiring victory in the US Open to become just the second in history to complete a ‘golden slam’.
US Open victory is all Alcott needs to complete the feat after winning the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and Paralympic gold this year.
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