- Alcott had an outstanding tennis career, highlighted by achieving the Golden Slam
- He has been a captivating part of the Olympics commentary team
- His latest self-referential joke had his followers laughing uncontrollably
Australian wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott is well-known for his comedic flair, but he’s taken his self-deprecating humor to the next level at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Alcott joins the Channel Nine commentary crew in Paris and has covered a variety of sports.
When assigned to commentate on the men’s 20km race walk, he humorously pointed out the irony of the situation.
‘It’s crucial to have experts when hosting the Olympic Race Walk coverage,’ he shared on Instagram alongside a video of him raising his eyebrows with a playful expression.
For those unfamiliar with Alcott, he was born with a tumor around his spinal cord, leading to paraplegia following surgical removal.
He excelled as a wheelchair tennis player, capturing multiple Grand Slam titles and Paralympic gold medals.
His remarkable achievements include completing a Golden Slam in 2021, where he won all four major titles and the Paralympic gold medal in the same year.
This background makes his claim to expertise in professional walking a particularly meta joke, which he readily embraced.
Dylan Alcott’s self-deprecating humor has contributed significantly to his success on the Paris Olympics commentary team for Channel Nine – his latest Instagram joke exemplifies this
Australians Declan Tingay and Rhydian Cowley (in yellow) take part in the men’s race walk in Paris, the event that encouraged Alcott to joke with his followers
Alcott further emphasized his humor by stating, ‘I’ve been training my whole life for this moment.’
His followers found his commentary hilarious, quickly recognizing Alcott’s charm and humor as a distinct asset to the commentary team.
‘The best commentator on the team. Love your laid-back and genuine style,’ one fan commented.
‘Love it Dyl! You enter the commentary scene with the greatest sense of humor,’ another added.
‘You’re really pushing it with this post, mate,’ joked another follower.
Australians Declan Tingay and Rhydian Cowley finished in 11th and 12th place respectively under challenging conditions.
Australia’s Jemima Montag secured a bronze medal in the women’s race walk.
Drawing strength from her late grandmother in the city where she found refuge post-World War II, Montag has overcome numerous challenges to achieve her Olympic bronze in the 20km walk.
Jemima Montag persevered through oppressive conditions to secure her bronze medal in the women’s race walk at the Paris Olympics
Montag was in fifth place with five kilometers remaining on a scorching Thursday morning in Paris, with the medal appearing to be just out of reach.
However, with encouragement from her sister, who was fervently cheering her on, the 26-year-old found the strength to pass two other competitors and seize the bronze in a time of one hour 26 minutes and 25 seconds, setting a new national record.
‘I felt an extraordinary boost of strength, courage, and resilience,’ Montag remarked.
‘(My grandmother) instilled those incredible qualities in my dad, who has passed them down to my sisters and me.’
‘Today was a manifestation of all those values.’
‘The course featured tricky sections with a dogleg and cobbles, and the crowd noise was overwhelming.’
‘Different competitors were making various moves, and I needed every bit of courage at that moment. A lot of it comes from family.’
