In 2004, Gavin Bellis was working as a diesel mechanic with the Australian Army when he was diagnosed with a hereditary disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, which, among other things, affects his coordination and balance. A year later he was medically discharged from the army and decided to try rowing. Naturally adept at the sport, Bellis was encouraged by the Australian Paralympic Committee to continue more seriously and within two years found himself training at the AIS.
Partnering with Kathryn Ross in the double sculls partner, Bellis brought brute physical force which complemented her technique to make a powerful combination. At their first international competition together, the pair won silver at the Gavirate International Regatta in Italy while Bellis also won bronze in the singles. The pair then backed it up with gold at the Italian National Championships and gold at the World Cup 3 in Munich. In 2012 the pair competed at the London Paralympic Games, finishing fifth.
Since London they have gone from strength to strength, winning back to back World Championship titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2016, he was once again named in the TAMix2x with Ross.