Breakout Paralympic star Tim Hodge has warned Australia risks being left behind if it doesn’t match spending in para-sport with the Olympics.
Hodge will leave Paris next week with three Paralympic medals to his name after clinching silver in the 100m butterfly (S9) on Friday.
His teammate Ben Hance secured Australia’s first gold medal of the day less than half an hour later at La Defense Arena when he powered to a first-place finish in the 100m backstroke (S14).
17-year-old Callum Simpson also won his first individual gold when he finished first in the 100m freestyle (S8).
Simpson, Hance, 24, and Hodge, 23, and 19-year-old Lewis Bishop, who won bronze in the same race as Hodge, shape as staples of the Australian Paralympic team as they look towards the 2032 Brisbane Games.
Hodge leaves Paris with two golds from the 200m individual medley (S9) and the 34-point 4x100m relay to go with his silver.
His haul is likely to net him a medal bonus worth $20,000 as part of a funding agreement put in place by Sports Minister Annika Wells.
But while his performances have secured a welcome payday, Hodge says other para-athletes aren’t as fortunate.
“The medal bonuses and the financial support that Paralympians are receiving now is just incredible,” Hodge said.
“It really gives us the opportunity to train and perform as our Olympic peers do, and not have to worry as much about making rent and making sure that I have a suit for the next competition that's not two years old.”
Hodge was keen to highlight that despite increased funding, some Paralympic sports are the poorer cousins of their Olympic counterparts.
“I don't know the amounts, but I know that it's a widespread issue we're hoping to change with the awareness of para-sport," Hodge said.
“While the Olympics is the epitome of human excellence, the Paralympics is the epitome of human resilience, and for people at home, they can relate (to that).
“They might see someone on the TV missing a leg or an arm or any other number of conditions, and they go, ‘well, they can do that. Why can't I?’.
“In order to build that Paralympic movement and make sure it endures for future generations, I think that the funding really needs to be there.”
As Hodge was issuing a rallying cry to sponsors and government, Hance was reflecting on “the worst year” of his life.
Hance, who lost his father Tony earlier this year, had set a new world record in his heat before clinching gold in his final.
“This has been the worst year of my life by far, I'm just glad this season's over, I'm glad I got a gold medal,” Hance said.
“I was just thanking my father for everything he's done. He always loved my backstroke and I'm glad I gave him a gold medal tonight for sure…
“He was supposed to be in the stands.
"I just enjoyed the work, the best 10 weeks of training in my life. I enjoyed every bit of it.”
