Kurt Fearnley AO
Paralympic Champion, Advocate & Inspirational Speaker
A passionate storyteller and speaker, sharing insights on resilience, leadership, and overcoming adversity. His work extends into advocacy and social impact initiatives, inspiring audiences to challenge limits, embrace diversity, and create positive change.
Quick Contact
Kurt Fearnley AO is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and one of the world’s greatest wheelchair athletes, with over 40 marathon victories including New York, Chicago, and London, spanning a career of more than 20 years.
Born without the lower portion of his spine in the small town of Carcoar, Kurt’s determination has defined his life—from backyard football to winning marathons, crewing a Sydney to Hobart yacht, and crawling the Kokoda Track in 2009 to raise awareness for men’s health.
Kurt’s sporting career began with two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, before breakthrough golds in the 5000m and marathon at Athens 2004. He went on to claim seven world championships, more than 30 global marathon victories—including three consecutive New York Marathon titles in 2007—and Paralympic medals at Beijing, London, and Rio, finishing his Australian representative career with marathon gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Beyond sport, Kurt is a passionate disability advocate and community leader. He serves on the boards of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, and the International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Advisory Council, and was a founding member of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Advisory Council. His work has earned him numerous honours, including NSW Australian of the Year (2019), Officer of the Order of Australia (2018), NSW Young Australian of the Year (2009), and an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University.
Kurt is also an accomplished corporate speaker, author of Pushing the Limits: Life, Marathons and Kokoda, host of podcasts including Tiny Island, You Little Ripper, and A Nation Changed, and presenter of ABC TV’s One Plus One. He delivers powerful keynotes and virtual presentations worldwide, sharing stories of resilience, teamwork, leadership, and living with purpose.
Whether inspiring audiences through tales of athletic achievement, advocacy, or leadership, Kurt Fearnley AO motivates individuals and organisations to embrace challenge, lead with example, and make a meaningful impact.
