Former Australian of the Year, four-time Paralympic gold medallist and multiple quad wheelchair Grand Slam title winner, Dylan Alcott OAM, joined the Melbourne Storm family today, named as the male #1 ticketholder.
His new honour was officially announced by CEO Justin Rodski in front of the club’s players, coaches and staff at a special presentation at Storm’s AAMI Park offices.
“Dylan is a truly remarkable person with a remarkable outlook on life and is an inspiration to millions of people around the world,” Rodski said.
“While his achievements on the biggest international sporting arenas have been widely acknowledged and recognised, he has been just as inspirational in his work away from sport.
“He has changed people's lives during his time as an athlete and continues to do so through his own foundation and the many other events and charities he supports, including our charity partner the Starlight Foundation.
We are thrilled he agreed to join the Storm Family and we hope to help Dylan continue doing what he does best – raising awareness and breaking down barriers for people with a disability
Justin Rodski CEO, Melbourne Storm
After touring the Storm offices meeting staff, players and coaches, Dylan said he had always had a close connection with Storm.
“I did a couple of pre-seasons at the Storm gym while I was still playing tennis and everyone in the Club made me feel so welcome back then from Craig all the way through to players and staff,” Alcott said.
“I was born in Melbourne in a rugby league family. So, when I got asked to be the number one ticket holder in the Club’s 25th year anniversary, I jumped at the opportunity to be more involved.
“I’ve been involved in the club in some way going back to 1999 when we won the premiership and my dad was working for an apparel company that made the Storm Premiership t-shirts.
“There is a real family feel about Storm and to play a small role in this is quite cool.
One in five Australians has some form of disability and a lot of them are Storm fans so to be more inclusive and show how a club like Storm can be more inclusive by having someone with a disability as a number one ticketholder is pretty awesome.
Dylan Alcott OAM Male #1 ticketholder, Melbourne Storm
Dylan is one of the country’s most successful and well-recognised Paralympians. In 2021 he became the only male in any form of tennis to win the 'Golden Slam', winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open Championships, together with his gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
In 2017, Dylan launched the Dylan Alcott Foundation, a foundation created to help young Australians with a disability achieve their goals in the workplace, on the sporting field or at university.
Dylan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2022 for distinguished service to paralympic sport, particularly to tennis, and as a role model for people with disability, and to the community through a range of organisations.
Dylan joins Victorian Minister for Mental Health, Ambulance Services and Treaty and First Peoples, Gabrielle Williams, who was announced as the Club’s female #1 ticketholder in 2022.
Storm also thanked former Federal Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, for his support during his two-year tenure as the Club’s male #1 ticketholder, particularly through the COVID-impacted seasons.
