FROM THE FRONTLINE TO THE FINISH LINE

THE WAR HERO AND PARACANOE CHAMPION IS PUMPED FOR HIS SECOND PARALYMPICS

- Lizzie Wilson

Paracanoe legend Curtis McGrath is the real deal, and if the Aussie war hero gets his way, he’s about to add to his already bursting trophy cabinet.

Creating history at the 2016 Rio Games when he won our first ever Paralympic gold medal in a canoe event, the double-amputee champion has his heart set on doing it all over again.

“It would be really special to win in Tokyo, especially with this team who have had plenty of challenges after the Games were delayed by a year,” Curtis, 33, tells New Idea from his home on Queensland’s Gold Coast before jetting off to Tokyo.

Bravery comes easy for the New Zealand-born kayaker, who first moved to Australia as a 10-year-old. Eventually settling in Brisbane with his family, Curtis knew from the moment he left school what he wanted to do.

“I enlisted into the Australian Army as a combat engineer as soon as I turned 18.”

It was during one visit home to catch up with family early on in his Army career when Curtis met the woman who would capture his heart forever, and who he eventually would marry in 2019.