Paralympics: Disabled athletes commended

By GREG ANSLEY

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Sports Foundation chief executive, Chris Ineson, has unleashed a blistering attack on whingeing elite athletes as Kiwis collect a clutch of medals at the Sydney Paralympics.

Although Paralympic officials have been at pains to avoid comparisons with the Olympics, there has been a glaring gap between the one gold and three bronze medals won by able-bodied New Zealand athletes and the harvest of gold, silver and bronze won by Paralympians.

"I've made no secret of the fact that at the end of the day it's medals that count," Ineson said.

In an interview with the Herald in which he also proposed mainstreaming disability athletes in able-bodied competition and increasing access to top-level coaching, training and sports medicine, Ineson drew sharp comparisons with the attitudes of the able-bodied elite.

"[The disabled athletes] never feel sorry for themselves, they never go around whingeing and whining," he said.

"They're one group of athletes we provide funds for who never, ever complain about the level of funding.

"They never complain about the lack of anything - they just get up and make it happen.

"In that regard, I have to say from a bigger perspective, there are some things they could show our [able-bodied] athletes about how to get about their business, give it their best shot and get on with life.

"Paralympians give it their best shot. There's not one guy here who wouldn't die for the cause."

Ineson said disabled athletes had to use determination and brains to train and travel to compete, and did not blame others when they failed.

"They could actually show some of our able-bodied athletes a little bit about inspiration, a little bit about sheer bloody-minded determination and getting on with life, and how to make do with what you've got, instead of complaining and grizzling to everybody else about why you're not bringing it home.

"At the end of the day these guys say 'I'm responsible - I'm responsible on the track, in the pool - it's me and only me who can bring it home."'

He said wheelchair racers Ben Lucas and Gavin Foulsham, who had yet to win medals, remained fired up.

"Not one hint of an excuse, not one hint of 'hey, I didn't come first in my heat and I blame whoever' - just 'I'm out there and I'm doing my thing."'

Ineson also proposed more integration of able-bodied and disability sports, without abandoning specific disability events, to help to lift the standard of competition.

He said: "There will be access to the coaches and there will be access to academy programmes run, for example, by the foundation.

"There will be access to sports science and medicine. That is where the next step really is for these folks."

Click here for Herald Online Olympic/Paralympic News