Paralympian Paige Greco: ‘People don’t understand what the disabled are capable of’

Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week, he talks to Paige Greco. The champion cyclist, 25, scored the first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, breaking her own world record to win the C1-3 3000m individual pursuit. She was recently awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.

“I always want to win and I always want to do better than my last performance. I want more. In the nicest way possible.”Credit: Paul Harris

SEX

There is a perception among some able-bodied people that those with disabilities mightn’t have enriching sex or romantic lives. What’s your response? There can definitely be stigma around what we can and can’t do. A lot of people underestimate us, not understanding what we’re actually capable of. My cerebral palsy is mild and, compared with other forms of it, also a little bit different. Relationships and good sex: I can still do all of that stuff.

How have you felt you’ve navigated these conversations in your own dating life? In the past, I was a little bit insecure about my disability. If I was going out with my friends, sometimes I’d hide it. Sometimes people ask, “Oh, what do you do?” and I say, “I’m an elite cyclist.” When I say that I’ve been to the Tokyo Paralympics, that I’ve got cerebral palsy, that’s how it would come up. I can still be a bit insecure about it, but people always say, “Oh wow, that’s really cool,” or “It’s awesome you’re competing at that level in your sport.” In the end, it’s just cerebral palsy. No one really cares. It’s maybe one of those things you place on yourself.

What a great mic drop! If you need to bring up your disability in conversation, you can just say, “I won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics.” [Chuckles] In the past, I’ve said, “I’ve just been to the World Champs.” And if someone says, “The Olympics?“, I’ll say, “No, it was the Paralympics – and this is my disability.”

MONEY

After the Tokyo Paralympics, Scott Morrison announced Australia’s Paralympic medallists would receive bonus payments, bringing them in line with their Olympic counterparts. Were you happy that the adjustment had finally been made, or frustrated it had taken so long? A bit of both. I was frustrated that it had taken so long and also by how people just didn’t know about the discrepancy. But I was happy that it had finally been announced and that everyone was going to hear about it.

Tell me about the cost of winning that medal, in terms of finance, time and personal sacrifice. Cycling is an expensive sport. You need to buy bikes and bikes can be really costly: eight or nine grand. I moved interstate for my cycling, so the sacrifice was not being around my family and friends. During COVID, I didn’t get home as much as I wanted to. But you just remember what you’re doing and what you want to achieve. Also, in the run-up to Tokyo, I put on hold any work experience that would help with my future career, and was just training. So there’s a financial sacrifice as well.

When you lay them out like that … is it worth it? One hundred per cent. Sometimes when you’re going through a hard training block, you definitely question it. You might not have the greatest training session, or you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. But seeing what I can achieve when I’m competing gives me the determination and motivation to keep going.

What’s the dream when it comes to your career? I have a degree in exercise and sports science, and I hope to go back to uni in the future to complete my master’s. I also look at [sprinter] Kelly Cartwright and [tennis player and basketballer] Dylan Alcott and watch what they do in the media in terms of standing up for other para-athletes and people with disabilities and their supportive sponsorships … that would be the dream.

Once you’ve got all the basics covered, what do you like spending money on? Clothes. And getting my nails done.

So if there’s a nail-salon franchise that wants to sponsor you? Yes, please! I always get my nails painted for a competition.

RELIGION

You went to a Catholic girls’ school in Melbourne. Did you grow up in a Catholic family? We’re Catholic. We’re not very religious, but I believe there’s a God. I like to think there’s someone looking after us.

You’re not very religious, but you’ve kept what you need from Catholicism and discarded what you don’t? Being a good person, helping others, looking after your friends and family – those are the things I’ve kept.

Do you have any pre-competition rituals, besides getting your nails done? Besides nails and hair, there’s always Dua Lipa on my playlist. I also like to think my grandma is watching over me. Sometimes before a race, I think about that. I know it’s me on the bike – and all my training, preparation and my team – getting me there. But sometimes I do wonder if she’s there, too.

What do you place your faith in? You have to believe in yourself and your processes. And I believe in karma.

All athletes have to have self-belief in order to do what they do. But do you ever feel doubt creep in? Actually, last night, I had doubts about my training. It definitely creeps in. In those moments, I’ll text my coach and he’ll reply, “Don’t stress. We’re doing everything that we need to.” That puts my mind at ease.

To what extent was winning gold in Tokyo a spiritual experience? For it to actually happen … you just think of everything that’s happened and all the people who’ve helped you get there. It was super emotional. I was super happy.

Which of the seven deadly sins are you most susceptible to? Pride, but also greed. Not in a bad way, though. I always want to win and I always want to do better than my last performance. I want more. In the nicest way possible.

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