Carding cash, delivered by way of the Athlete Help Program, is among the solely constant funding Canadian elite para-athletes obtain. In 2024, it offers $1,765 monthly as a residing and coaching allowance to athletes on the worldwide competitors stage. And though Olympians earn $20,000 for a gold medal, $15,000 for a silver medal and $10,000 for a bronze medal by way of funding from the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympians have by no means earlier than been paid for reaching the rostrum.
The cash panorama is beginning to change for athletes, nevertheless. Beginning with Paris 2024, Canadian Paralympic medallists will obtain the identical amount of cash as their Olympic counterparts. Sponsors like Toyota and Air Canada have additionally put vital assets into sponsorships for athletes and their applications, and athletes are persevering with to advocate for extra money. So, what’s the monetary actuality of athletes who symbolize our nation?
Gold medal–profitable shot putter Greg Stewart spoke to MoneySense in regards to the fraught monetary setting for para-athletes and his personal method to cash. At 38, he’s in his second go-round with regards to Paralympic competitors, having gained gold in shot put on the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. He was beforehand on Canada’s sitting volleyball workforce—a pure match if you’re seven-foot-two—profitable bronze medals on the 2007 and 2011 Parapan American Video games. He beforehand gained three world titles with the lads’s para standing volleyball workforce.
Stewart retired from skilled sport in 2022, however he returned in 2024. He gained silver on the World Para Athletics Championships in Might, solidifying his choice for Paris 2024. Stewart just lately co-wrote a e-book, Stand Out: The True Story of Paralympic Gold Medallist Greg Stewart (Kermode Training, 2024), and he’ll compete on the Summer season Video games in Paris on Sept. 4. As you’ll see on this interview, the monetary realities of competing are one thing he thinks about quite a bit. (Interview has been condensed and frivolously edited.)
Inform me about your method to cash as a Paralympian?
My method has slowly been altering, now that society is beginning to view disabled individuals [better], to see us as equals. I believe we’re beginning to see that mirrored in how Paralympic or disabled athletes are handled. However on the similar time, there are nonetheless quite a lot of prices to [being a professional para-athlete]. Folks with disabilities are nonetheless underfunded by way of the prices of kit, supporting themselves, and their fundamental wants. In case you’re a carded athlete, that may—would possibly—assist pay for a bit little bit of your lease. But it surely’s not going wherever towards supporting your incapacity.
Did funds play a task in your choice to retire in 2022?
I selected to retire for 2 causes. I wished to spend extra time on the issues that mattered to me—and that was my accomplice and my revenue. Carding isn’t sufficient cash to pay to your lease and meals, not to mention every other actions that you’ve. So, retirement gave me the chance to begin to earn a residing, and to create extra of a resume, by way of really hunkering down and incomes a paycheque. Realistically, although, the vast majority of athletes are targeted on attempting to get carded, interval, as a result of they consider that’s going to be a supply of revenue they’ll depend on. [They think they won’t] have to fret about possibly choosing up that further shift as an athlete.
What had been a few of these jobs that you just did?
I used to work for my prosthetist. And I used to work within the recycling trade, in automotive scrap. I did that for 3 years whereas I used to be competing. It helped pay for lots of issues throughout COVID. However it might require me to step away from coaching for every week or week-and-a-half each time. The issue I’ve is that we’re speaking about athletes, we’re speaking about individuals which can be placing themselves on the market to symbolize Canada. One of the simplest ways I may say it’s: we’re ambassadors for the nation. But, we’re in a 15-minutes-of-fame society in Canada. There’s no longevity to [sport in this country]. And if there’s, you as an athlete must make that longevity.
What affect do you see the rise in company funding having on Canadian para-sport athletes?
I believe it’s going to create a bit bit extra competitors inside para sport, as a result of it’s difficult generally to seek out rivals, relying on the occasion. While you present cash, individuals’s ears perk up. They begin to understand, OK, there’s extra to this than simply ardour. On the similar time, I additionally suppose that placing cash up entrance will doubtlessly create a bit little bit of greed, a bit little bit of corruption. That’s what cash does to all people. So long as we may be aware round that, then I believe actually good issues may occur.