‘We need to invest’: de Rozario warns of Brisbane Paralympics failure after Paris slide

Paralympic hero Madison de Rozario has said increased funding is the only way to stop Australia’s Paralympic Games results from floundering, warning that the movement has “run out of steam”.

Speaking on Wednesday after touching down on Australian soil days after winning silver in the women’s T54 marathon, de Rozario said a rebuild of the Paralympic culture and structures was the only way to ensure future success after Australia finished ninth on the medals table in Paris.

Madison de Rozario was welcomed home with the rest of the Australian Paralympic team on Wednesday morning.Credit: Steven Siewert

“Whether we can build an entire team in the time it’s going to take to get to 2032, I don’t know,” she said. “We have the athletes, we have the desire to be the best team in the world, and I think we can very realistically do it, but we need to invest.”

Australia’s ninth-placed finish in Paris was its worst result since 1988.

De Rozario said team funding had become “passive” since Australia topped the medal tally at the Sydney 2000 Games.

She warned it could take a long time to recover from the financial shortfalls that she said were partially behind the disappointing haul in Paris.

Ryley Batt on Wednesday morning. Credit: Steven Siewert

The federal government doubled its investment in Paralympic sport this year, adding $54.9 million in its most recent budget.

Sports Minister Anika Wells has said the money would “shift the balance of government sport funding” in Australia, turning the proportion of funding from 15 per cent for people with a disability, to 25 per cent.

Six-time Paralympian Ryley Batt, who won wheelchair rugby bronze in Paris, backed his fellow athletes to stage stronger campaigns in Los Angeles and Brisbane, saying small improvements on Paris – including converting the 45 silver and bronze medals from Paris into gold – would put future Paralympic teams in good stead.

“On the way to Brisbane, I think we’re going to have an even stronger team, and we’re going to be top five of the tally.”

Batt will take a six-month break from wheelchair rugby before considering a potential return ahead of 2028.

On Tuesday, the Australian Institute of Sport announced a nationwide talent search ahead of the Brisbane Games.

More than one-third of Australia’s Paris Paralympic team, including Batt, were discovered through a talent search.

De Rozario said the search would play an enormous role in developing the star Paralympic athletes of Brisbane.

“Our gold medallists from Brisbane need to be in LA,” de Rozario said. “We need those programs in place now, if we want those gold medals in Brisbane.”

She will race in the Sydney marathon this weekend.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.