National Athletics Series & Qantas Australian Athletics Tour » Fan Zone » Athlete profiles » Fearnley, Kurt

 Athlete Profiles 

 Kurt Fearnley 

Kurt Fearnley
54

In 2008 Kurt returned from the Beijing Paralympic Games with four medals (one bronze, two silver and a gold). The highlight was his sprint finish victory in the marathon on the final day of competition after entering the stadium for a final lap showdown with five other athletes. He also took his third consecutive New York marathon.

In 2009 Kurt won six marathons from as many starts in races around the world. In November he crawled the gruelling Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

He won gold in the T54 1500m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Date of Birth:
23.03.1981
Discipline:
Wheelchair Track and Road
Occupation:
Athlete/teacher
Height:
140cm
Weight:
50kg
State:
NSW
Coach:
Andrew Dawes
Previous Coaches:
N/A
Scholarship:
NSWIS
Club:
Wheelchair Sports NSW
Place of Birth/Residence:
Cowra, NSW / Sydney, NSW
Marital Status
Single
Flame Team Number
54
Joined Flame Team On
N/A
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 Further Information 

Competition Stats

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Paralympic Games: 2000 -2nd (800m), 4th (1500m), 2nd (4x100m relay), 21st (marathon), 2004 – 4th (800m), 4th (1500m), 1st (5000m), 1st (marathon), 2nd (4x100m relay), 2008 – 2nd (800m), 3rd (1500m), 2nd (5000m), 1st (marathon)

IPC World Championships: 2002 – 7th (400m), 7th (800m), 2006 – 1st (800m), 3rd (1500m), 1st (5000m), 1st (marathon)

Commonwealth Games: 2010 – 1st (T54 1500m)

ROAD RACING VICTORIES

Marathons:

2006 – New York (USA), Seoul (KOR), Sydney

2007 – Port Elizabeth (RSA), George (RSA), Los Angeles (USA), Rome (ITA), Treviso (ITA), Seoul (KOR), Paris (FRA), Sydney, Chicago (USA), New York (USA)

2008 –Chicago (USA), New York (USA)

2009 – Paris (FRA), London (GBR), Seoul (KOR), Sydney, Chicago (USA), New York (USA)

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS

T54 400m: 47.92 – Atlanta (USA), 2008

T54 800m: 1:32.73 – Athens (GRE), 2004

T54 1500m: 2:55.92 – Arbo (SUI), 24//06/2010

T54 500m: 9:54.99 – Cedartown (USA), 2008

T54 10,000m: 21:24.36 – Arbon (SUI), 24/06/2010

Wheelchair half marathon: 42:37

Wheelchair marathon: 1:22.16 – Seoul (KOR), 2007

RECORD(S)

Paralympic records:

T54 5000m: 10:13.86 – Beijing (CHN), 08/09/2008

Wheelchair marathon: 1:23.17 – Beijing (CHN), 17/09/2008

World Championships meet record:

T54 800m: 1:38.91 – Assen (NED), 2006

Australian records:

T54 400m: 47.92 – Atlanta (USA), 2007

T54 800m: 1:32.73

T54 1500m: 2:59.04 – Atlanta (USA), 2007

T54 5000m: 9:45.10 – Cedartown (USA), 2008

T54 10,000m: 20:32.00 – Sydney, 2007

Wheelchair marathon: 1:23.17 – Beijing (CHN), 08/09/2008

Interesting Facts

Kurt is missing the lower portion of his spine.

Introduced to wheelchair basketball before athletics, he started competing in wheelchair races in his teens whilst in school at Carcoar. After finishing his HSC in 1998 he moved to Sydney to study for a Bachelor of Human Movement degree.

A bevy of accolades off the track have seen Kurt named a Young Australian of the Year finalist (2005), recipient of a Pierre De Coubertin Award, an Australian Sports Award (Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability -2006) and the sole Australian nominated for a prestigious Laureus World Sports Award in 2007.