Raised in the serene countryside of Carcoar, Kurt Fearnley has always embodied determination. Despite being born without the lower portion of his spine, he has never let this hinder him—from childhood football games in the backyard to crawling along the Great Wall of China, Kurt has always faced challenges head-on.
Transitioning to wheelchair sports during his teenage years, Kurt quickly emerged as a dominant force. His career took off with two Silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, followed by a breakthrough Gold at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in the 5000m and marathon events.
Post-2004, Kurt continued to conquer the global stage, securing seven world championships and triumphing in over 20 marathons worldwide, including an impressive 10 wins in 2007 and three consecutive titles at the New York Marathon. His legacy as a Paralympic legend was further solidified by defending his Gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics, showcasing his prowess across both track and road events. At the London 2012 Games, Kurt added to his accolades with a Silver on the track and a Bronze in the marathon.
In 2009, Kurt undertook the challenging task of crawling Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Track and later joined the victorious crew of Investec Loyal in the 2012 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Beyond sports, Kurt is a fervent advocate for disability rights, actively involved in various national and Hunter-based charitable initiatives. He serves on the Independent Advisory Council of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, holds a board position at Australian Volunteers International, and is a Council Member of the NSW Australia Day Council. As a qualified Physical Education teacher, Kurt travels across NSW, educating high-school students in communities both small and large.
Kurt's remarkable achievements, both on and off the field, earned him recognition as the 2009 NSW Young Australian of the Year.
