He took up canoeing competitively after both of his legs were amputated as a result of a mine blast while serving with the Australian Army in Afghanistan.

[5] McGrath was awarded a Sporting Full Blue at Grffith University whilst studying a Bachelor of Aviation Management.

He had shattered bones in his wrist, burnt left arm, perforated ear drums and large wound at the back of his thigh.

[9] At the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team Launch in Sydney, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made the following comments about McGrath: ... he has overcome those injuries through rehabilitation and intense training to become an elite paracanoeing competitor.

[10]Prior to his military injury, McGrath was a keen white water canoeist, rugby player and swimmer.

His first disability sport experience was at the United States Marine Games in San Diego where he won three gold medals in swimming.

"[4] In October 2013, McGrath, with his father Paul, participated in a 1,000 km paddle from Sydney to Queensland to raise funds for the Mates4Mates.

In September 2014, he captained the Australian Team at inaugural Invictus Games in London, and won a bronze medal in swimming and made the archery final.

In winning the Men's KL2 200m, a Paralympic Games event, he defeated six time world champion Markus Swoboda.

At the 2017 Australian Rowing Championships, Sydney International Regatta Centre, McGrath won the Trunk and Arms (TA) Men's Single Scull, in his first ever race.

[20] At the 2017 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Račice, Czech Republic, McGrath won gold medals in Men's KL2 200m and VL2 200m.

[26] In the lead up to the Paralympics, McGrath won gold and bronze medals at the 2024 ICF World Para Canoe Championships in Szeged, Hungary.