Yahoo Finance Aussie Paralympian's medal pay vs Olympians: 'Aren't here for money'
Paralympians can cash in on a pay day worth up to $20,000 if they clinch gold.
Australian Paralympians will be awarded the same cash prizes for bringing home a medal at the 2024 Paris Games as their Olympic counterparts. Proud Australians are set to tune in to watch the world-class competition, which runs until September 9.
Winning a gold medal guarantees a $20,000 payday. Silver and bronze will earn $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Like Olympians, a spokesperson for Paralympics Australia told Yahoo Finance para-athletes won't be rewarded on a per-medal basis but for their best result.
This means if an athlete wins a gold and bronze, they would get $20,000, not $30,000.
A Yahoo Finance poll conducted during the Olympics revealed 85 per cent of people felt Australians should get paid more for winning a medal.
The highest-paid Olympic gold medalists are in Singapore, where a $1.13 million award is offered.
Five-time Australian Paralympian and Paris flag bearer Madison De Rozario has claimed two gold, three silver and a bronze medal over her Paralympic campaigns.
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The 30-year-old said the investment recognised para-athletes' contribution to Australia's rich sporting history. But, the decorated wheelchair racer said it wasn't about the money.
“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," De Rozario said
“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.”
The government allocated funding for the medal prizes in the 2024 federal budget.
This included an additional $55 million for Paralympic sport, which is the largest increase in the sector ever by an Aussie government.
Sports Minister Anika Wells said they are thrilled to have Paralympians and Olympians on the same pay packet.
In the US, athletes get $37,500 for gold, which would equate to just over $55,000 in Australia. While Canada awards $20,000, with a similar dollar value in Australia that's about $21,800 here.
Major change made at the Tokyo Games
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was a huge turning point for para-athletes for pay parity.
Many spoke out about the need for all Australian competitors to be given the same opportunity and rewards.
Physical Disability Council of NSW chief executive, Serena Ovens, said it was a disgrace not to have the same rewards because “Paralympians work as hard, if not harder, to get to where they’re at to compete for their country".
Two-time Paralympic medallist Jodie Willis-Roberts added to the ABC that it was devastating to see her Olympic counterparts get paid for their achievements.
"These games are supposed to be built on equality and equity," she said.
"We're not a sideshow, we're athletes out there doing it every bit as hard as every other athlete, and unfortunately we don't get the same rewards."
A major deal was struck before the end of the games for additional financial support that gave Paralympians pay parity.
“Knowing that their achievements are valued equally to their Olympic colleagues will give our athletes more confidence and motivation to compete at their best," Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh said.
"Many of our Paralympians face significant financial strain as they pursue success on the world stage. This support rewards their success and acknowledges the broader challenges they face.”
Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
Who was the highest-paid Australian at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Paralympians are yet to compete for a medal, but Australia had a record-breaking performance at the Paris Olympic Games.
So who walked away with the biggest paycheque?
Pole vaulter Nina Kennedy.
She won gold for clearing a 4.90 metres jump on her first attempt.
On top of the $20,000 from the AOC, the athletics world governing body also had a separate prize pool for their athletes.
Athletics was the first sporting category to allocate funding for Olympic gold medal winners at the Paris 2024 Games.
World Athletics' $3.6 million (US$2.4 million) was divided between 48 athletics events, giving gold medallists an extra $76,000 (US$50,000).
That meant Kennedy received the biggest payout of any Aussie athlete at $104,400, according to MONEYME.
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