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They are Australia’s triple threat. The power of three in Curtis McGrath, Susan Seipel and Dylan Littlehales will all line up at their third Paralympic Games with the canoe competition sets to get underway from September 6 to 8.
McGrath’s duties have increased for the Paris Games as he has undertaken the role of Australian Paralympic Team co-captain alongside eight-time Paralympic athletics medallist Angie Ballard, leading a team of 160 athletes from 17 sports.
The 36-year-old three-time gold medallist is out to defend his crowns and will have added motivation when he takes to the water, recently becoming a father to his son Monty who is at home with his wife, Rachel.
“Rio was about my recovery, finding my identity and Tokyo was about high performance,” McGrath said.
“This time around it’s about something new, it’s about being a leader and a senior member of this team and helping the Paralympic team move through and go beyond just these Games.”
Like his teammates, McGrath had the opportunity last year to race on the Paralympic course, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, at the ICF World Cup, so has an idea of what he could be facing.
“It’s a bit of a hit and miss venue,” he said. “One where it’s got this cross right shoulder wind, so if that’s blowing up there are lanes that are more exposed.
“But everyone is in the same boat, literally, so we are all working to get to the line the fastest and whoever has prepared for those conditions the most will be shown on the day.”
It’s been a different lead in for McGrath, who post-Tokyo took 12 months before getting back into racing and Paris 2024 preparations.
“There are pros and cons to taking that time off for sure,” McGrath said.
“I think it’s helped me with motivation for sure. I felt very tired and fatigued after Tokyo… having a five year cycle as opposed to a two year is a bit different.
“But the outrigger canoe (va’a) is one thing where it’s cost me a bit not competing for a year. My body didn’t like me after getting back in that boat that’s for sure.
“I’m keen to race it and do the best I can do and hopefully the preparation I’ve done until now is enough. I’m not making excuses but it just highlights that it has been difficult [this cycle].
“I always knew coming into these Games I wanted to do both disciplines. I love paddling and if I got the opportunity to represent my country in both I would give it a whirl.”
For 24-year-old Littlehales, competing at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in the World Cup saw him take home the gold medal, backing up from his 2023 World Championship gold medal. The standout results have made it his best Paralympic Games preparation to date.
“I think that win was a huge one, especially for these Games, because I think it just got the monkey off the back. I’ve been floating around that medal for a long time but never actually won it,” Littlehales said.
“I think the biggest confidence boost for me is last year I had a bit of a back injury for three days leading into the World Cup that we competed in. I couldn’t even sit in the boat for three days before the race.
“Then went out and won the World Cup. I think that’s a huge confidence boost to know that if in the next two weeks something does go wrong, it’s not over, we can still pull out a good race.”
Like McGrath, Littlehales knows the different conditions the venue can dish up.
“Quite often, especially last year [World Cup 4] there is a bit of a side chop which I’m not too worried about given I have a bit of a Surf Life Saving background plus better steering in my class then some people have, it’s something that doesn’t affect me too much. But at the end of the day you want a flat course where the best paddler wins.
“The class I’m in has taken on a whole new level this year and luckily I’ve pretty much gone with it so far, hopefully I find that extra little bit that no one else can find and we can pull through it.”
Seipel once again has her sights firmly set on podium finishes, hoping to better her silver and bronze medals from previous Games.
“My preparation has been going well, I’m trying to push myself as hard as I can knowing this is my third Games. My expectation is to get a medal so I want to give it all I’ve got, so I have been training really hard to get to this one”
This Games the Australian Para-canoe squad has been training under experienced coach Anna Wood, who is also a four-time Olympian.
“I’ve been really enjoying working with Anna,” Seipel said. “I think she’s a really great coach because she’s got that experience as an athlete as well.
“She has a story about everything that happened from years ago which is really interesting and then she has been a coach for a long time so she has all these different levels of experience.”
Seipel is looking forward to racing in front of family and friends.
“It definitely helps me [with the crowd] because I’m more laid back and I’ve done this a few times now and I need a bit more excitement. Sometimes it actually helps to have a bit more nerves, to go forward.”
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport till September 8.
By: Lauren Ryan, Paralympics Australia
Published: 4 September 2024
