April 15, 2018. Australian Kurt Fearnley speaks after winning the wheelchair marathon at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. In his farewell race representing Australia, says “as far as my legacy or my story, I see it as one as people looking after people and giving people opportunity”. Fearnley also says the changes in para-sport can’t be defined more than seeing the cameras and level of recognition and interest in the event. (AAP Video/Carol Cho)

Fearnley has been a hero of Australia’s home Games campaign, culminating in a gold medal in this morning’s T54 wheelchair marathon.

The 37-year-old earlier won a silver medal in the men’s T54 1500m final.

Fearnley beat out a red hot field for flagbearer honours which included swimming superstars Mitch Larkin, Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell.

Fearnley’s emotional post-race interview has become one of the moments of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Fearnley, who scorched the field to claim gold by more than a minute on the streets of the Gold Coast this morning, fought back tears as he interrupted his interview to share the moment with son Harry and wife Sheridan.

Kurt Fearnley had a lesson for us all after his win in the wheelchair marathon. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“All you can do is really try to give back a little and that was an hour and 30 of giving back,” Fearnley said on Seven.

“That hurt mate, I’ve got nothing else.

“I checked the heart rate, I had an average of 194, including a minute before the start so I was working hard mate — and I can see my little man and Sheridan just coming over, so do you mind if I just go give them a quick hug mate?”

There would not have been a dry eye in households across Australia as he embraced his son and

Sheridan cried after the “fairytale finish”.

Kurt Fearnley plants a kiss on wife Sheridan with son Harry and daughter Emilia during the medal ceremony following his gold medal performance. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Fearnley, who has retired from international competition after the race, answered questions but also appeared to be instilling the importance of representing Australia to his young son, who sat in his lap.

“This is everything, this is done — eight years ago I sat down and said this was my last race and never wavered ... when you’re in these colours you’ve got to be fierce and today I had as close to fierce as I’ll ever get,” he said as he looked at Harry.

In fact, after he spoke about using the Commonwealth Games and sport as a way to promote inclusion for people with disabilities earlier in the week, Fearnley had another lesson for athletes with designs on representing Australia.

A spent Kurt Fearnley crosses the finish line more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“I’ve got a lot of feedback from people with what I said the other day,” he said.

“If I can say anything to the next people wearing the green and gold, young kids coming up, when you get on the microphone, when you speak, err on the side of kindness.

“And, If you can get here, bring the family with you, bring people with you, because it just makes it so much worthwhile.”

Fearnley lead from start to finish to win comfortably in one hour 30 minutes 25 seconds, crossing the line at Southport 78 seconds ahead of England’s John Smith who pipped compatriot Simon Lawson for silver.

He said two words kept going through his mind as he realised it would be the least time he’d wear Aussie colours in a race.

“I thought about that for the hour and a half and I just kept on saying to myself, ‘Just fight. Just fight. Just fight’,” he said.

“I’m going to be doing marathons until they bury me in a gutter but I’m not going to be able to find that sort of stuff, that sort of stuff is when you have got that green and gold on mate.

“You’ve got to deal with whatever you have to deal with, you just put it on and you just fight and I was thinking that for the whole time.”

More to come....

Originally published as Fearnley to carry Aussie flag