“There are a lot of barriers which you would argue increases the need for them to be recognised in the way Olympians are from a medal incentives perspective.”
McLoughlin says many para-athletes have been struggling financially due to the high cost of living, forcing many to work extra hours despite their intense training programs.
Australian Paralympian flag-bearers Brenden Hall and Madison de Rozario.Credit: Louie Douvis
“They’re elite athletes and therefore they can’t necessarily work full-time, yet a lot of them do – they have to juggle because they have no choice,” McLoughlin said.
“They pay more for rent because they’re having to find somewhere that’s accessible, which often costs more, or they can’t share with someone else. There are all these factors that … an able-bodied athlete doesn’t have to deal with or even have to consider.”
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Curtis McGrath, who became a para-canoeist after he lost his legs while serving as a combat engineer in Afghanistan, said he was fortunate to have a military pension and sponsors, but many of his Australian teammates were not.
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“These athletes that are out there representing Australia at the games, they’re not on millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars, they’re on just a couple of tens of hundreds, and that’s really hard to get by,” he said.
“We don’t have those reserves and funds, so we have to fundraise for our team to get to the games. That’s really something that we’re trying to rectify. The reward to represent your country is something that we are incredibly honoured to do, but the financial opportunities are not there.
“Hopefully more commercial partners get on board and increase the ability and the value of athletes right around our country.”
De Rozario, who will be one of Australia’s flag bearers at Wednesday’s opening ceremony, added: “When it was first announced in Tokyo it was so exciting and to know that it’s happening again is gratifying. Paralympians aren’t here in Paris for money – we’re here in the green and gold because of what it means to us to compete for our country. This support tells us as Paralympians that we are valued. It also tells the public that athletes with a disability are equal with non-disabled athletes.”
Australia has a team of 160 athletes in Paris, competing across 17 of the 22 sports at the Paralympics.
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