Australia’s 2024 Paris Paralympic Video games athletes have arrived again at Sydney Airport this morning, relieved to be on residence soil to greet household and buddies.
Individuals gathered ready for the Australian Paralympic group. (ABC Information)
Australia received 63 medals in complete, with 18 gold, 17 silver, and 28 bronze.
That features six twin gold medallists and 17 who received a number of medals.
Amongst these was swimmer Timothy Hodge, who received his first particular person gold medal in males’s 200m particular person medley SM9.
Paralympic gold medallist Timothy Hodge stated coming residence to a variety of welcoming Australians was the “icing on the cake”. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
“It has been a protracted journey. It has been a very good journey, but it surely’s to be again residence amongst the Aussie crowd, and to be again residence with household in addition to icing on the cake,” he stated.
“The Paralympic marketing campaign has been lengthy. It has been a bit tiring, however, for the time being, simply taking a breather.”
Different athlete shared comparable emotions.
Winner of the gold medal in lengthy bounce Vanessa Low stated she was having fun with the second and looking out ahead to a well-earned relaxation.
Gold medallist Vanessa Low stated the expertise of the 2024 Paralympics and returning residence felt like being on a “roller-coaster”. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
The 2-time Paralympic gold medallist added that the sentiments of coming residence after two weeks on the Paralympic Video games felt like a “roller-coaster”, and that she wanted time to course of all the sentiments.
“I believe I am undoubtedly going to take a few weeks, or in all probability even a pair months, simply to let all of it sink in and see how I really feel about it.”
Seven-time Paralympian Danni Di Toro stated touchdown was “very emotional”. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
Seven-time Paralympian Danni Di Toro stated touchdown was “very emotional” and that the Paralympic neighborhood was her household.
“For a extremely very long time, we have labored actually onerous to come back collectively as a neighborhood, and work out what meaning to be a Paralympian.
“And each time we collect, we solidify what meaning, the values, how we’re there for each other.”
Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager, winners of first gold medal in para rowing for Australia, in Sydney on the 2024 Paralympic Video games welcome residence celebration. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager returned residence with the primary gold medal in para rowing recorded for Australia.
“I am overwhelmed and proper now bodily exhausted, it has been a giant journey again,” Ms Ayers stated.
“Wanting again on what we’ve achieved, it hasn’t sunk in but.”
‘Society is recognising that an Olympian and Paralympian are equal’
For others, the response of these ready for the arrival of the athletes was one thing particular.
Rachael Watson stated the welcome residence celebration mirrored that Paralympian athlete’s had been starting to be handled with the identical worth as Olympic athletes. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
Three-time Paralympian and bronze medallist swimmer Rachael Watson stated Paralympians haven’t had a welcome residence celebration supplied in earlier video games.
Members of the family of the athletes, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-Common Sam Mostyn had been amongst these within the welcome residence celebration.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-Common Sam Mostyn had been amongst these within the welcome celebration. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
“To have it occur now, right here, it implies that society is recognising that an Olympian and Paralympian are equal. And their achievement is simply as essential, and one’s no higher than the opposite,” Ms Watson stated.
“I believe it should actually form the longer term for folks with a incapacity as effectively, who’ve that very same dream as folks like me.”
‘Satisfaction and braveness’
Household and members of the general public alike arrived at Sydney Airport early on Wednesday morning to greet the athletes.
Amanda Lesson, mom of Jamieson Leeson, the primary Australian lady to win a Paralympic silver medal in boccia, stated she was extremely pleased with her daughter.
“She’s accomplished it on her personal. It is simply so thrilling for the longer term, to see how far she will be able to go. It was simply actually powerful to be residence watching,” she informed ABC’s Information Breakfast.
Amanda Leeson stated she was so pleased with her daughter, Jamieson Leeson, and that she could not anticipate her to get residence. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the nation was pleased with this yr’s Paralympic Video games’ athletes and the way they represented Australia.
“They’ve represented their nation with satisfaction and with braveness,” he informed ABC Information Breakfast.
Anthony Albanese stated all the athletes on this yr’s Paralympic Video games have represented the nation with satisfaction and braveness. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
Mr Albanese stated he believed the positivity and pleasure of the athletes who competed would encourage the subsequent era.
“There will be younger Australians who’ve been watching over the past couple of weeks, and so they’ll be considering to themselves, ‘I reckon I can have a crack in Brisbane 2032, in order that’ll encourage the subsequent era.'”
Amongst these within the crowd wanting to greet the Paralympians was teenager Matilda Chesterton, a para-fencer and aspiring skilled athlete.
Matilda Chesterton stated she had ambitions to compete on the 2032 video games in Brisbane. (ABC Information: Adriane Reardon)
She’s hoping to qualify for 2032 and stated the Paris Video games have been nothing in need of inspirational.
“It is simply nice having the ability to see individuals who have comparable disabilities to me be capable of exit and do what they love.”
Australia received medals in 9 sports activities together with boccia, athletics, canoe, biking, rowing, swimming, desk tennis, triathlon and wheelchair rugby.
In swimming, Alexa Leary, Tim Hodge and Callum Simpson every received two golds and a silver, as did Lauren Parker in triathlon and biking.
