Australian Paralympic great Angie Ballard on the opportunity to use Paris as a launchpad for the future

Angie Ballard has seen the Paralympic movement significantly grow in a career spanning more than two decades. She says now is the time to capitalise.

Angela Ballard is going into her eighth Paralympic Games. Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images

Angie Ballard has seen the Paralympic movement significantly grow in a career spanning more than two decades and she insists now is the time to capitalise.

While the Australian Paralympic co-captain, who is set to compete at her seventh Games, is inspired by the changes she believes the best is yet to come.

The aim of the Paralympic movement is to help generate in three key areas including attitudes, mobility and opportunity.

Ballard, 42, first appeared competed in a Paralympics at Sydney 2000 at a time where she “had to fight for a slice of the pie”.

And she said growing support from the Australian public was pivotal with the green and gold determined to continue the momentum on from Tokyo.

Angela Ballard in action at her first Paralympic Games in 2000. Picture: Jamie Squire/ALLSPORT

“The reality is some Olympic and Paralympic athletes are still doing it tough,” she said.

“Not that people aren’t doing it tough in Australia right now. But sport doesn’t always make money and the amount of support we get is indicative of the amount of success we can achieve.

“People getting behind the Paralympic team makes a real difference.

“That changes the commercial viability, it changes the way we’re seen in our communities, it changes the different kind of support we can have.

“The fact is the reach, people’s language and understanding of what Paralympic sport is, what’s fun to watch, all of that stuff is so much better because it’s so much more accessible to them.

“And that makes us so much more valued in the sporting landscape.”

Angie Ballard and Curtis McGrath, Australia’s Paralympic captains. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images

According to Ballard, a big factor in the Paralympic Games growth was the world of social media.

“My first Games was 2000 and it was a wonderful experience being in Sydney. But social media wasn’t around then, the lens of who was successful at a Games was decided by newspapers and TV.

“I would say the appetite then was probably for only one or two people to be the heroes of the moment.

“We’ve just seen from the Olympics and I know from our team, there are so many great stories to tell.

“Debutants who might not medal but anyone who has an awesome story to tell. We don’t need just one person to be representative of the whole because that’s not representative in the first place.

“We have capacity to cheer for all of the Australian team, not just our favourite.”

Ballard was named as an Australian co-captain 12 months ago alongside para-canoe champion Curtis McGrath who will be looking to defend his Tokyo title.

She said the timing of announcement had played a key role in her preparation.

“It’s built up to this time,” she said.

“I’ve had my captain’s hat on, I’ve had my athlete’s hat on. Until I got to the Games I was able to keep them in different zones which was good for training and competition for me as an athlete.

“I know all of the captains previously and they will freely offer advice, they’re just awesome, wonderful people.

“I think I’m a little bit different to some of them. I’m trying to bring my own little stamp there.

“I’m really interested in people being represented and being able to tell their story.”

When Ballard takes to the track at the Stade De France, she will be looking to add to the eight medals (four silver, four bronze) already in her collection.

She highlighted her roomates including Vanessa Low, Rhiannon Clarke, Sarah Walsh, Sarah Edmiston and flag bearer Madi De Rozario as those who could “hit it out of the park”.

“I think we’ve got a fantastic team,” she said of the athletics team.

Athletics events will start on August 30 which is day two of the Paralympic Games.

Originally published as Australian Paralympic great Angie Ballard on the opportunity to use Paris as a launchpad for the future