PARALYMPIC basketballer Dylan Alcott has encouraged some of Bendigo's best young athletes to keep things in perspective while chasing their sporting dreams.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Alcott - who won gold with the Australian Rollers in Beijing and silver in London - spoke at Bendigo Senior Secondary College's elite sports lunch on Wednesday.
Students from 13 sports who have represented their state or country heard the inspirational address.
Alcott, 22, was born with a tumour on his spine that left him a paraplegic, but was determined from childhood to be treated just like everyone else.
He took up wheelchair tennis at 10, rising to be ranked world junior number four.
Wheelchair basketball beckoned and Alcott represented the Rollers in Beijing at 17, beating Canada in the gold-medal match.
He enthralled the audience with his Olympic tales, including the story of a sprinter he met who had no arms, ate using his feet, and could run 100m in 10.8 seconds.
"It made realise that the biggest thing about life is the word perception," Alcott said.
"How you perceive the events that happen to you determines what you go out and do. It might be not getting picked in that first state team. Does that mean you... end your career there just because you've had one hardship?
"I don't really care that I'm in a wheelchair. If I could take a magic pill and start walking, there's no way I would because the Dylan in the wheelchair and the Dylan who walks is exactly the same Dylan.
"Remember, if you guys want to go forward in your sport, it's all about the choices you make."
Alcott also urged the stars to maintain a balance in life and enjoy the journey.
Students at the lunch included international golfer Lucas Herbert, Australian mountain bike representative Chris Hamilton, TAC Morrish medallist Jacob Chisari and Lady Braves basketballer Caitlin McLachlan.
McLachlan said Alcott's words struck a chord.
"I'll definitely remember what he was saying about keeping things in perspective.
"Some things I may think are really bad, or hard, I think now can be just excuses.
"He's so inspiring."