The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games wrapped up in the early hours of this morning, with Australia finishing ninth on the global medal tally. The Aussies will come away from Paris with 18 gold medals, 11 of which were won by women athletes.
As the Games come to an end, Australia will pride itself not just on the 62 medals, but also the special moments we saw throughout the tournament – the grit, strength, power and heart of our Paralympians.
Australian wheelchair racing legend Madison de Rozario was the epitome of that at these Games, her fifth Paralympics campaign. After winning a silver medal in the women’s T54 marathon on Sunday, the 30-year-old revealed her dad passed away the night she carried the Australian flag in at the Opening Ceremony.
De Rozario was told the morning after, and the day after that was her heat for the T54 5000m, the event in which she would eventually win bronze.
Speaking to reporters after her silver medal performance in the marathon, de Rozario said while she considered going home to be with her family, they urged her to stay on and “get this done”.
“I think the person that I am I do credit a lot to him,” de Rozario said.
“I think as I’ve gotten older I’m starting to really recognise that some of the parts of myself that I’m really proud of and that have made me the person I am are an enormous credit to him.”
Curtis McGrath
In another proud moment for Australia, paracanoeist and former military soldier Curtis McGrath won his third consecutive paralympic gold medal in the men’s 200m kayak single KL2.
McGrath, who lost both legs while serving as a combat engineer in Afghanistan in 2012, became a father just two months ago. However, his wife and baby boy, Monty, could not be there in Paris with him. Monty was born with a rare congenital heart defect and needed open heart surgery when he was born.
McGrath was emotional after winning the race, thinking about his family back at home.
“Crossing the line (I did think about my son),” McGrath told reporters.
“His and my wife’s names are written on my boat, and it’s a nice reminder that they’re along here in spirit with me.”
Lauren Parker
At the Paris Paralympic Games, Australia had its first dual-sport gold medallist in 44 years.
Lauren Parker won three medals at Paris: gold in the PTWC triathlon, gold in the para cycling H1 -4 road race and silver in the para cycling H1 -3 individual time trial.
At the Tokyo Games, Parker fell short of winning gold in the triathlon, but was determined to win in Paris.
“I’ve said ever since Tokyo that I want to get gold at Paris, and I will get gold at Paris,” Parker said after winning the triathlon.
“That’s been a big driving force over the last three years – every single day through every single training session.”
Lauren Parker joined para athlete and dual gold medallist James Turner to carry the Australian flag at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday night.
Table Tennis: Qian Yang and Li Na Lei
Before the Tokyo Paralympics, it had been 37 years since Australia won a gold medal in table tennis.
That was until the table tennis duo Qian Yang and Li Na Lei came along – and this year’s Paralympics campaign was just as successful.
In the women’s table tennis WD20 doubles, Qian and Lei won gold. It was the duo’s first doubles gold medal, after both winning gold in Tokoyo.
Days later, Qian backed it up to win gold in the singles WS10. Qian’s doubles partner, Lei, won bronze in the WS9 singles category later on in the week.
After the doubles gold medal, Lei told reporters winning with Qian had a “different meaning”.
“I got a lot of medals, but every time I still feel a different meaning. We are very close friends. We know each other from when Qian was a child,” she said.
“I quite enjoy the Australian lifestyle and because our team, the Australian table tennis team, is a lovely family. We accept every culture.”
Here’s the full list of Australia’s gold medal tally at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
- Thomas Gallagher – Swimming: Men’s 50m freestyle S10
- Korey Boddington – Cycling: Men’s C4-5 1000m time trial
- Emily Petricola – Cycling: Women’s C4 3000m individual pursuit
- Amanda Reid – Para cycling: Women’s C1-3 500m time trial
- Li Na Lei and Qian Yang – Para table tennis: Women’s doubles WD20
- Nikki Ayers and Jed Atlschwager – Para rowing: PR3 mixed double sculls
- Lauren Parker — Triathlon: Women’s PTWC
- Jesse Aungles, Emily Beecroft, Alexa Leary, Tim Hodge, Keira Stephens, Callum Simpson — Swimming: Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay
- James Turner — Athletics: Men’s 400m T36
- Qian Yang — Table tennis: Women’s singles WS10
- Alexa Leary — Swimming: Women’s 100m freestyle S9
- Lauren Parker — Para cycling road: Women’s H1-4 road race
- Timothy Hodge — Para swimming: Men’s 200m individual medley S9
- Vanessa Low — Para athletics: Women’s long jump T63
- Ben Hance — Para swimming: Men’s 100m backstroke S14
- Callum Simpson – Para swimming: Men’s 100m freestyle S8
- Curtis McGrath — Para canoe: Men’s kayak single 200m KL2
- James Turner — Para athletics: Men’s 100m T36