Australia’s Paralympic team has returned home after a successful campaign in Paris. Australia finished ninth on the medal tally with 18 gold, their achievements are set to inspire the next generation.
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00:00The Australian Paralympic team was given the same homecoming reception provided to the
00:09Olympians, a gesture that was warmly received.
00:13It means that society is recognising that Olympian and Paralympian are equal and their
00:18achievement is just as important.
00:20These athletes are just remarkable, they've overcome adversity, they have represented
00:26their country with pride and with courage.
00:29And they made history.
00:34Jed Altshwager and Nikki Ayres won Australia's first ever gold in para rowing.
00:40Pure excitement, joy, happiness, pride.
00:43Jamison Leeson is the first Australian female to medal in boccia.
00:47Hopefully this piece of medal hanging around my neck will play a part in getting more people
00:52involved in boccia and para sport in general.
00:55It's really inspiring because I myself want to go to 2032 Brisbane.
01:00Some veterans are also looking ahead to a home games.
01:04The French crowd, they were awesome, they just went berserk, especially when there was
01:07French swimmers.
01:08So that's what spurred me on I think to swim until 2032 because I'd like to see what the
01:14Aussies, I reckon the Aussies will go one step above.
01:17Others are setting short term goals.
01:20We've got world championships next year and the ultimate goal at the moment is LA28 to
01:25try and make that team.
01:26Madison Di Rosario's father died at the beginning of the Paralympics.
01:30Her family encouraged her to stay and compete.
01:34She won a silver and a bronze.
01:37I'm so grateful to the team and to our staff for making that so doable that I was able
01:42to get out there and race.
01:43And regardless of how these athletes went in Paris, nothing would beat a hug from loved
01:48ones.
01:50I'm so grateful to the team and to our staff for making that so doable that I was able
01:52to get out there and race.