Face of Nation : Wheelchair athlete Dylan Alcott’s Logie win means more to the rising star than just adding another award to his already impressive trophy cabinet.
Alcott, who won the Graham Kennedy award for most popular new talent, said it was time someone who looked like him was celebrated as normal.
“Growing up I deeply struggled with being in a wheelchair, and the worst thing was when I turned on the TV no-one was like me,” Alcott told reporters on Sunday night.
“It was always an actor playing a disabled role or someone in a car crash, and I was like that’s not my life, why can’t you just be normal, and show people that having a disability is not the end of the world.”
During his acceptance speech Alcott joked he didn’t think he’d win because he couldn’t see a ramp leading up on stage, but realised soon after there was a suitable back entrance.
The paralympic gold medalist and radio host said his Logie Award showed that people resonated with diversity and different kinds of people on television.
Alcott, who recently won the French Open title is off to Wimbledon in a few days, and made sure to check-in with his coach before celebrating his success.
“I wasn’t going to drink but I just texted my coach and said couple of beers, and he said, a few.”
Previous winners for the award include Chris Hemsworth and Miranda Tapsell.
