Gerrard Gosens OAM
Gerrard Gosens is one of Australia’s true high achievers. Gerrard is a totally blind adventurer, three-time Paralympian, Project Manager, Chocolatier and motivational speaker. He is currently aiming to be selected to represent Australia at the 2020/21 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Gerrard was asked in 2016 if he would like the opportunity to complete a triathlon. Since then, Gerrard has gone on to be ranked inside the top ten Paralympic sprint triathletes in the world. He won bronze at the 2017 World cup, placed ninth at the 2017 World Championships, and in December went the extra distance and won the Paralympic category at the Busselton Ironman. Gerrard won the 2018 Oceania Triathlon Sprint Championships, and multiple medals at World Cups leading to the Paralympic Games.
Gerrard was honoured with an Order of Australia (OAM) award in 2012, for his outstanding service to sport, and people who are blind or have low vision. He has been awarded the Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal, which has been recognized by the international media as “The Nobel of Life”.
In 2009, in a television world-first, he faced one of his greatest challenges ever, when he took to the dance floor on” Dancing with the Stars”. Gerrard made it to the semi-final despite never having danced a step in his life.
While the show was the first glimpse of this inspirational man for many Australians, corporate audiences have been motivated and uplifted by Gerrard’s life story for many years.
Gerrard has run the 2,000 kilometres from Cairns to Brisbane five times to raise money for charity. He represented Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games in the team sport of Goalball. Gerrard returned to his former sporting love – distance running and represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games in the 5000 metres, 10,000 meters and marathon (42.2km). He has gone on to represent Australia at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games, six Athletics World Championships, and 2012 Marathon World Cup.
Gerrard also has a head for heights! He has, three times, co-piloted an ultra-light motor glider around Queensland to raise funds for charity.
His many achievements; strength and determination to succeed at whatever he sets his mind to, saw him named Young Queenslander of the Year, and a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year. Gerrard was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship for humanitarian service, and in 2003 received a Centenary of Federation Medal for service to sport.
Gerrard is the owner of the business called Chocolate Moments, creating their own hand-made chocolates while running two retail chocolate stores in Brisbane and conducting chocolate cooking experiences.
In addition to his full-time job as a Project Manager, business venture as the world’s first blind Chocolatier, and owner of Chocolate Moments, sporting and adventure pursuits, Gerrard is writing a book called “My Eyes had a Wet Nose”, which provides an insight into the many unique and entertaining experiences that he has encountered with his guide dogs, Joey, Anchor, Summit, Chief, and now Boss.
Gerrard said “Everything I’ve done and everything I’ve achieved has been made possible through the support, assistance and commitment of a dedicated team of people who have been beside me, no matter how difficult, dangerous or crazy the dream. “I’ve always believed that success is a journey, not a destination.
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