Adversity makes us stronger.
A true story of triumph over tragedy, Curtis McGrath is a para-canoeist like no other. On the 23rd of August 2012, young soldier Curtis McGraths life changed forever. The decorated Sapper was two months into a tour of Taliban-rife areas of Afghanistan when he stepped on a homemade landmine, otherwise known as an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). The then 24-year-old tragically lost both his legs in the blast.
Curtis enlisted into the Australian Army on the 12th of June 2006, at the age of 18. His focus immediately turned to Combat Engineering, a role that's main aim is to Provide mobility whilst denying the enemy mobility . Duties range from building structures and converting seawater into drinking water for the Army and the local populous to destroying bridges and clearing mines and booby traps.
Thirty minutes after losing both his legs in a horrific blast in Afghanistan, in those traumatic moments as he was being stretchered from the bomb site, Curtis was already thinking about pursuing a career as an amputee athlete. Fully aware of his grim situation and partly to maintain consciousness as a survival mechanism, he joked with those helping him about becoming a Paralympian. He didn't know what sport he was going to do, but his positive outlook and determination to rebound and achieve his driving ambitions have made this man get to where he is today.
Curtis had lost his right leg above the knee and the left leg just below the knee. After a miraculously speedy recovery and rehabilitation process, Curtis was fitted with legs made by Otto Bock; a German company first started after World War I.
At the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Curtis defended the Gold Medal he won at the 2016 Men's KL2 event and added a third Gold Medal to his tally with a win in the inaugural Men's VL3 canoe sprint.
Curtis' autobiography 'Blood, Sweat and Steel' was published in 2021 by HarperCollins.
Previous Experience:
Sport: He tried his hand at a few sports but settled on canoeing, an activity he'd dabbled in at school.
Curtis only took up outrigger canoeing in January 2014 and has made it all the way to be one of the fastest sprint canoeist in the world. In 2015 the International Paralympic Committee made the decision to replace the outrigger canoe with the sprint kayak. Curtis has had to quickly adapt to the kayak to be eligible for the Paralympics. He trained 12 times a week during the build-up to the competition under elite kayaker and now Australian Paracanoe Coach Guy Powers.
Awards: He's won gold medals at the ICF Paracanoe World Championships from 2016 to 2019 and a Paralympic gold medal in the Men's 200m KL2 kayak event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
In February 2017 Curtis became the first Paralympic athlete to be honoured by being named 'Sportsman of the Year' at the World Paddle Awards and Australian Canoeing Paracanoeist of the Year. That same year he was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal.
At the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Curtis defended the Gold Medal he won at the 2016 games in the Men's KL2 event and added a third Gold Medal to his tally with a win in the inaugural Men's VL3 canoe sprint.
Media: In 2018, Curtis was on the side lines of the Commonwealth Games to bring all the action to homes across Australia working with Channel 7 Sport broadcasting crew, along side some of Australia's most recognised sports presenters. Curtis was also an ambassador for the Invictus Games 2018 in Sydney where he helped build the profile of the games and worked for the ABC on the broadcasting team with Chris Bath, Anthony ˜Lehmo Lehman and Dylan Alcott OAM.
Talking Points
Resilience
Resilience
Communication & critical thinking
Communication & critical thinking
Teamwork
Teamwork
Goal setting & self determination
Goal setting & self determination
Video
Who I Am: Curtis McGrath | Canoe Gold Medalist! | Para Canoe | Paralympic Games
"Having adversity is something that makes us uncomfortable. But at the same time, it's what allows us to grow and improve." Find out the story of Curtis McGrath and how he is training in lockdown!Curtis McGrath on war, recovery and winning Paralympic Gold | One Plus One
In 2012 Curtis McGrath was a young soldier in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED - leaving him without his legs and changing his life forever. He speaks to Kurt Fearnley about recovery, determination, and winning gold at the Rio Paralympics.Curtis McGrath | Introduction | Saxton Speakers Bureau
A true story of triumph over tragedy, Curtis McGrath is a para-canoeist like no other. Thirty minutes after losing both his legs in an horrific blast in Afghanistan, fully aware of his grim situation and partly to maintain consciousness as a survival mechanism, he joked with those helping him about becoming a Paralympian. 8 years, multiple world titles and an Olympic gold medal later, Curtis is one Australia's most successful parathletes.Saxton Fireside Chat with Paralympian Curtis McGrath
The exchange of stories and ideas is more important now than ever. In this bi-weekly series of virtual Fireside Chats you can gain unprecedented access to the world's greatest storytellers and thought leaders. In this session, Curtis discusses the strategies he puts into place to maintain momentum when you are working towards a goal.Audio
Curtis has a very down to earth persona and speaks very well. He shares a traumatic but also very inspiring story that many ages in the audience will feel touched by. ... keep reading Outback Mind Warriors
Curtis was sensational speaker, and a really nice guy to deal with. We had a small room of professional athletes who've seen it all before' and you could have heard a pin drop (in fact, you could hear the aircon buzzing). Our audience was highly engaged, hanging on every word, with lots of questions which Curtis answered very honestly. Highly recommended.
Curtis' story is an inspirational one which had a big impact on our audience (comprising Chairmen, CEOs and CFOs). I wouldn't hesitate recommending Curtis to other companies looking for someone who can truly speak to adversity, resilience and the importance of goal setting in life as well as sport.
Curtis was the perfect speaker for our event. He was professional, relaxed and his presentation resonated with the audience. He was able to link his involvement directly back to the focus of our event and bring everything together perfectly. What a wonderful person - it was a pleasure to have Curtis join us for this night.
We have received the results of our survey and it was another gold medal winning performance from yourself. Your session rated the highest 4.82/5.00 , of all our sessions. Well done and thanks again for having a positive impact on the team.
As a member of the Henzells Pelican Waters Foundation we recently had a Charity Golf Day with the definite highlight of the presentation Dinner being guest speaker Curtis McGrath. If you Google Curtis this is what you get, Curtis McGrath is an Australian paracanoeist who took up canoeing competitively after having both of his legs amputated as a result of a mine blast whilst serving in the Australian Army in Afghanistan. That's what it says plus his story but to hear this guy speak is one of the most amazing things I have ever heard and when he finished there were 250 people giving him a standing ovation and he brought me and a few others to tears, he is an awesome individual and I felt very privileged to hear his story, I would definitely recommend Curtis for events such as these as he will and has left a lasting impression on those that witness his presentation.
Curtis was such a great human being! He captivated the audience (you could hear a pin drop) and we loved hearing his story (as hard as it was to hear). He is an amazing person who has overcome so much to get where he is. There are so many great take-away's from his speech that we should all remember and live by. We loved him!
Curtis's talk at our Gala Dinner was incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking. His journey of resilience and determination in the face of adversity captivated our audience, showcasing not only his personal achievements but also the power of project management in driving positive change. Curtis’s ability to connect his experiences to the principles of project management resonated strongly, offering valuable insights that attendees could apply in their own professional lives. The authenticity and passion he brought to the stage made his message all the more impactful, leaving everyone motivated to pursue their goals with newfound vigour. Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience that sparked meaningful conversations among everyone ... AND, I am a huge fan of Curtis - absolutely loved the guy from the first time I met him on call to in person at the venue - a superb human! He is a celebrity, but he was so humble when we met and spoke as if we were mates!
Curtis was engaging and left our students with a very important message - in life things aren't always going to go to plan but even during those difficult times it is important to find a purpose, set some goals and ask "What's next?"
