Essendon Football Club wishes to congratulate Australian Paralympic champion and Essendon supporter Kurt Fearnley, who has made history becoming the first Paralympic athlete to win the coveted Don Award at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

In an elite field that included Matildas superstar Sam Kerr, Formula One racing driver Daniel Ricciardo and cricketer Ellyse Perry, Fearnley was the recipient of the prestigious award that acknowledges the sportsperson who has most inspired the nation over the year.

As a board member of the Australian Paralympic Committee, 37-year old Fearnley has regularly been at The Hangar across his award-winning year.

Fearnley’s brilliance in winning gold in the marathon and silver in the 1500 metre events at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April was the highlight of his 2018. Although he is still competing individually, the Commonwealth Games marked Fearnley’s retirement on a national level after a career that included three Paralympic gold medals, seven world titles and victories in 35 marathons.

Upon being announced as the winner of The Don, Fearnley received a standing ovation from the audience at Crown Palladium and acknowledged the historic nature of his victory before vowing in a video speech that he “will not be the last” Paralympian to win the award.

“We need every person within this room to embrace our community of people with disabilities, not only on the sporting field but within administration, in executive and within board and governance roles.”

Essendon Football Club has a proud strategic partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee.