Aussie sporting icon Dylan Alcott announces surprise career move after conquering tennis

Legendary wheelchair athlete, disability advocate and former Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott is adding a new achievement to his impressive resume: he is an author.

The Golden Slam-winning Paralympic athlete has signed a deal to create a fictional series for secondary school-age children that celebrates and normalises disability, difference and inclusivity.

The first part, Game On, takes readers on a journey of friendships and finding your own rhythm in high school.

“Growing up with a disability, I never saw people like me on screen, on television and especially not in books,” Alcott said.

‘We want children to have fun and to be introduced to the everyday thoughts, feelings and experiences that shape their lives.

‘In addition, we hope to normalize and celebrate disability, difference and inclusivity through strong character development.’

Alcott hopes the book will spark conversations among children, parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone interested in the series.

The book follows 12-year-old Dylan as he navigates high school, with old and new friendships colliding, a teacher named Grumps hot on his trail, and a drama-filled talent show planned.

The all-conquering tennis champion aims to inspire the next generation

Alcott has teamed up with author Fiona Regan, who looks forward to bringing diversity to the page.

“As a writer, I want to create characters that are not often represented in popular children’s books, and to capture on paper the diversity that we see all around us, but that is not always reflected in our popular culture,” she said.

‘By making diverse experiences visible, children are given the opportunity to use language to make inclusivity the expectation, not the exception.’

Illustrator Nahum Ziersch said Alcott’s achievements inspired him and that the project was a “no-brainer” for him.

“I’m always grateful to work with people like Dylan. It’s not often that we as creatives get the chance to illustrate such well-written and humorous stories,” he said.

‘These books are suitable for all ages, because the humor and emotional elements are spot on throughout.

“Regardless of whether people have a disability or not, Dylan’s stories speak directly to what it means to be a teenager and the challenges that come with growing up. It’s such an honor to work on this series.”

The book, published by ABC Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, will be released in November.