Aussie paddler Curtis McGrath dedicates Paris gold to army mates who saved his life, family at home after heart surgery

PARIS: Barracking for champion Australian paddler Curtis McGrath in the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium crowd as he won Paralympic gold on Saturday were some of the men who helped save his life after both of his legs were blown off while fighting in Afghanistan.

McGrath dedicated his triumph in the men's kayak single 200m (KL2) to those heroic men, as well as his nearest and dearest some 16,000 kilometres away: his wife Rachel and their baby boy Monty, who can't be in Paris because Monty is recovering from emergency heart surgery.

In 2012, as McGrath was lugged onto a stretcher and rushed into a helicopter, he famously joked to the men helping him that they'd see him competing at the Paralympic Games.

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In Paris on Saturday, some of those men saw him capture his third consecutive Paralympic gold medal in the kayak event.

"They're all there [in the crowd] and were a part of that journey of recovery and rehabilitation," said McGrath, who powered over the finish line in 41.31 seconds.

"They're the ones carrying my stretcher and putting the tourniquets on and literally saving my life. In the traumatic moment of that blast … they were with me, and they're still here supporting me and it's very special."

McGrath was serving for the Australian Army as a combat engineer in Afghanistan in 2012 when he lost his legs.

He discovered a land mine, which he was tasked with doing, but the land mine detonated.

"I've got some great friends there that I'll have for the rest of my life," McGrath said of his army mates.

"I think there were a few sore heads this morning, but they were here cheering and they weren't late this morning."

McGrath and his wife Rachel gave birth to their beloved boy in July, but he was born with a heart condition called transposition of the great arteries, also known as TGA, and required open-heart surgery.

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"That was one of the hardest goodbyes," McGrath said.

"He's doing well. They're home now and watching TV.

"I'm very proud of them and what they've been able to achieve while I've been over here. It's very comforting.

"I'm looking forward to getting home.

"Interestingly, I can't do too much … apart from just be there and support emotionally and mentally my wife.

"We're just out here doing sport so it's not actually that important, but when we're representing people and countries and our family members it means more. It's special to have this accolade, and I'm just proud to represent everyone involved in this team and my performance and my life."

At the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium on Sunday, McGrath will be aiming to secure his second gold medal of the Games when he contests the va'a single 200m (VL3).

At Tokyo 2020, the New Zealand-born Australian became the first canoeist to win two gold medals at a single Paralympic Games.

"I can't cry all [my tears] now; I've got to save some tears for tomorrow," he said.

"I'll refuel the tank and recover and then get ready for the next one tomorrow, which I think is going to be even tougher.

"It's a good feeling [winning gold today]. It's a tough comp out there pushing me all the way and I'm just over the moon ... It's not really over, but that one is, so it's nice."

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