N.B. Paralympic medal winners reflect on 1st year of compensation for medallists

Swimmer Danielle Dorris of Moncton won a gold medal defending her title at the 2024 Paralympics, and although she has won two medals in the past, this is the first one she'll be compensated for.

"It definitely, I guess, makes it feel more special, because it makes it feel like everything that I've worked towards is finally getting paid back to me," she said.

"It's very, very special that we're getting that recognition with that money that we'll be receiving for the medals. I think it's an incredible step towards a more equal world, where Paralympics and Olympics are viewed more equally."

In January, the Paralympic Performance Recognition program was announced, with the financial rewards to come into effect for the Summer Games.

Canadian Paralympians receive $20,000 for winning gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze — equal to the amount Canadian Olympians receive.

For Olympians, the concept of money being given to athletes who win medals was first introduced with its Athlete Fund in 1997. It evolved over time into what it is now, but up until this summer, Paralympians were not compensated. 

An initial $8-million endowment created by the Canadian Paralympic Committee's philanthropic partner, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, created the program to ensure a sustainable funding model.

At the Tokyo Games, Dorris won a gold and silver medal. And while she said it isn't all about the money, it did help her strive even harder for a medal to earn prize money to put toward training costs. 

Before the Tokyo Games, Dorris competed at the Rio Games in 2016. She was 13-years-old at the time — Canada's youngest Paralympic swimmer ever. 

Had the prize money been available back then, it would have been inspiring.

"Those athletes … who are the 13- 12-year-olds now, are seeing that they now have something that they can work to," said Dorris.

"And hopefully, say, four years from now in the L.A. games, it's even more equal in terms of how things are being done.

"I think 13-year-old Dani would have been shocked and very happy, and definitely would have performed as best as I could have, even though I knew I wasn't going to be medalling there."

But still, Dorris said her favourite memory from the Games is having her parents in the stands during all of her races.

It was the first time they got to witness her win a gold medal. 

"During the medal ceremony … anytime I looked up towards them, I would start to tear up a little bit," she said.

And Dorris wasn't the only New Brunswick Paralympic medallist at the Games. First-time Paralympian Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis earned a bronze in cycling. 

During his run at the Games, the rehab facility back home, where he spent time after his injury, hosted a viewing event. 

"I think that's about as full circle as it gets," he said.

"I received a video … of them watching in the rehab centre. And anytime a facility like that kind of gives you so much, all you really want to do is kind of be able to give back at some point."

And while Hayward's first Paralympics was full of emotion and grueling competition, he said he almost forgot about the compensation part of things because he didn't think about actually winning a medal. 

It wasn't until one of his teammates asked him what he was going to do with the money that it really struck him.

"I think whether we like it or not, we're always going to kind of get compared to the Olympics," said Hayward.

"And right now is a really exciting time for parasport in general. I think we're very much headed in the right direction as far as viewership goes, and kind of all around support.

"And obviously, you know, getting … the same amount of money for medal performances as our able-bodied counterpart is just another step in kind of that parallel that we're all looking for."