Paris Paralympics 2024: new podcast explores financial hardships faced by athletes

Williams, who won gold at the 2012 London Paralympics in the 4x100m medley relay, has also served as vice president of Paralympics Australia and chair of the Paralympics Australia Athletes Commission.

A survey conducted by the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), released this week, found three out of five Commonwealth Games athletes earn less than $23,000, while almost half are considering quitting their sports due to financial constraints.

Williams spoke to a number of Paralympians in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Games for her podcast Unbroken: the Paralympics and its Record.

She dedicated a whole episode to financial issues.

Williams spoke to Paralympic wheelchair basketball athlete Kevin Coombs, who competed at the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. He told Williams they had to shake tins outside of footy grounds “like beggars” in order to fund their efforts. He said they also had to sweep the floors at the stadium after training.

In order to compete at the 1992 Games in Barcelona Tracy Barrell’s family had to sell their farm to fund her tickets.

Barrell went on to win two gold medals at the Games but retired not long after as the $30,000 needed every year for coaching and travelling was just too much.

“Up until the Sydney Paralympics, most athletes had to fundraise for themselves, not necessarily for competitions, but for training and equipment,” Williams said.

“Paralympians often require more equipment than able bodied athletes because they require prosthetics and wheelchairs and things like that.

“Even when I was competing in the early 2000s, it wasn’t really until the end of my career where athletes started making enough money so that they didn’t have to work a second job.”

Williams said it has changed significantly with the Paralympic movement growing and athletes now able to access sponsorship deals just like Olympians.

The swimmer said having the Paralympics on free to air television had also opened new opportunities for athletes.

“The recent FIFA Women’s World Cup shows that if broadcasters and organisations get behind sports with athletes from diverse backgrounds, then the public will enjoy it and love it and fall in love with the athletes and celebrate sport for what it is,” she said.

“But it’s very hard to do that without an investment from television networks and sponsors.”

Williams said things were certainly moving in the right direction but there was always more that could be done.

“I was the lawyer for the Australian Olympic Committee for five years up until 2018 and during my time there, I saw that there were a lot of corporates who were sponsoring both the Olympics and the Paralympics,” Williams said.

“I feel like we’re moving in the right direction, but there’s certainly more that can be done.”

The podcast also explores the challenges all people living with a disability face, the importance of inclusivity and classification issues.

I think a lot of a lot of people don’t know how to talk to their kids about disability,” Williams said.

The audio documentary is available to listen to at hireup.com.au/unbroken

The Aussie forced to pay a fortune for Olympic dream

Athletes often say they will do anything for the opportunity to represent their country at an Olympics – Carina Hagarty is proof – spending more than $60,000 in pursuit of her dream – earning just $750 back.

The 22-year-old trampolinist is determined to don the green and gold in Paris next year – not just for herself but to make her dad Mick, who lost his battle with cancer last year, proud.

Hagarty first started gymnastics when she was just four years old – later switching to trampolining which she quickly fell in love with.

Up until 18 months ago Hagarty had competed in the double mini tramp – a team event and non-Olympic sport.

Close to two years ago her coach suggested she switch to individual trampolining and try to qualify for Paris – now she is less than 12 months away from achieving her dream.

It’s a dream that has come at a heavy financial burden.

Last year she competed at the World Championships in the double mini tramp event and won.

The trip had cost each of the four athletes on the team $7000.

The $3000 prizemoney was split between all four of them – equating to $750 each.

Hagarty would love to be a full-time athlete but has to split her time between training and coaching in order to earn some money.

It’s far from enough to cover the cost of international travel up to five times a year.

“I’m very thankful to my mother (Jane), who is the one who funds what she calls a very expensive hobby of mine,” Hagarty said.

“The media is so prominently filled with professional athletes and the sport is not very promoted but maybe one per cent of our athletic population is professional.

“Everyone else pretty much pays for everything that they do in their sport to get to where they want to go.

“We have spent $60,000 in the past 20 months in this sport but I am so proud of how well we have done in the past year.

“But to come away with $750 each after paying $7000 each to be there was a bit bittersweet.”

She isn’t the only athlete struggling to foot the bill in pursuit of their dreams.

A survey conducted by the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), released this week, found three out of five Commonwealth Games athletes earn less than $23,000.

While 43 per cent of Brisbane 2032 hopefuls were thinking about quitting their sports.

Hagarty said quitting wasn’t a thought that had crossed her mind. She is in it for more than the money – she wants to make her dad proud.

“We lost him at the start of last year which feels like a lifetime ago but it really wasn’t that long ago,” Hagarty said.

“Mum has been an absolute rock.

“Mum and dad have always said that as long as I’m fully committed to what I’m doing they will be committed to me.

“And Mum just keeps going with that one.

“The Olympics were never really in my path when he was here.

“They were kind of a later addition. So I’d like to think that he’s looking down with a big smile on his face.”

Hagarty still has a fair journey to go before qualifying for the Olympics.

She has two options to make the cut – the first is to perform well on the World Cup circuit and accumulate enough individual points towards Australia’s total – with the top 12 countries qualifying.

Or she can finish in the top eight at the World Championships.

The World Championships are in November.

It will be Hagarty’s fourth but her first competing in the individual event.

Unlike the last worlds The WattleNest, an initiative which helps fund athletes’ endeavours, have covered the cost of her trip.

“I won’t have to dig into my own pocket which is mind-blowing and I’m so incredibly grateful and thankful,” Hagarty said.

“It’s definitely taken taking a load off my mind, which is very, very nice in all of this when I’m focusing on everything else that’s going on.”

Originally published as Paris Paralympics 2024: new podcast explores financial hardships faced by athletes