Brittany Hudak (Dave Holland/Canadian Paralympic Committee)

By Nolan Kowal

Money for medals

‘A real turning point’: Local Paralympians respond to medal compensation announcement

Feb 6, 2024 | 11:00 AM

A couple of Prince Albert Paralympians are in support of a recent Canadian Paralympic Committee announcement that Paralympians will be compensated for winning medals at future competitions.

Going forward, all Canadian Paralympians will receive $20,000 for gold medal wins, $15,000 for silver medals, and $10,000 for bronze. It’s the same pay structure that Canadian Olympians receive for medal wins.

“I think it’s a real turning point for the Paralympic movement in general,” said Brittany Hudak, who competes in biathlon and cross country skiing. “For me growing up with a physical disability, I didn’t even know that the Paralympics existed. And I think that speaks volumes about how much more we need to raise awareness about the Paralympics.”

“Now we’re at a point where we’re finally being seen as equal counterparts. For us, we still have to work just as hard to win medals, we still have to put in the same amount of training hours, we’re still doing all the same things as the athletes that win at the Olympics,” she continued.

Hudak, who just won a gold medal at an event in Italy, added the announcement gives her plenty of optimism for the future.

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“I just think this is a huge step in the right direction for honouring the work that Paralympians put in just like Olympians do,” Hudak said. “It makes me feel really good to see that these changes are going to happen for the next Games and what that means for future athletes coming into Paralympic sport.”

“It’s so nice to see and it just gives me high hopes for how much more growth we can see in the Paralympics and just be seen as equals.”

One of those future athletes is Prince Albert swimmer Ali Diehl, who has Paralympic aspirations herself.

“I think it’s amazing that they brought awareness to that and that we are getting paid for it just like Olympians,” Diehl said. “We’re more like each other than we actually think and we deserve to be treated the same.”

“It’s just something that is so surprising and I think it’s just a great change and it’s going to be a wonderful change,” added Diehl, who has a World Series event coming up in April in the U.S.

The new money structure will come into effect at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com