The Paris Paralympics start today, 28 August, and South African athletes could earn thousands for winning a Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal.
The Paralympics in Paris are set to be the biggest in history, with a record of 168 countries and 4,400 para-athletes competing.
Team SA has representatives across nine sporting codes at the 2024 Games. Para-athletes are placed into different events depending on their mobility, coordination, absence of limbs, or visual impairment.
South African para-athletes will be given the same incentives for winning a medal as their Olympic counterparts.
Para-athletes that win gold will receive R400,000, while their coach receives R100,000
Silver medallists and their coaches will be awarded R200,000 and R50,000, respectively.
The bronze medal payouts will be R75,000 for the athlete and R25,000 for the coach.
Given the unique nature of the Paralympics, guides for visually impaired athletes will also receive the same payouts as the coaches who earn a medal.
Incentives will also be different for Boccia, a precision ball sport for neurological conditions related to cerebral palsy, where para-athletes will earn between R40,000 and R200,000 for a medal.
Boccia coaches will earn between R20,000 and R100,000 for a medal as well.
Individuals
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| Athlete | R400,000 | R200,000 | R75,000 |
| Coach/Guide | R100,000 | R50,000 | R25,000 |
Boccia
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| Athlete | R200,000 | R100,000 | R40,000 |
| Coach | R100,000 | R50,000 | R20,000 |
How much is left in the pot
The National Lotteries Commission granted Team SA an R39 million grant to allow the country to compete at the Olympics and Paralympics.
The grant includes a bonus of R5 million for medal winners.
South Africa paid its Olympic medal-winning athletes and their coaches R2.1 million after getting one gold, three silvers and two bronzes in Paris.
Tatjana Smith and her coach, Rocco Meiring, received the largest chunk at R750,000 after winning gold and silver in the Women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke:
| Athlete/Coach | Sport | Medal | Prize |
| Tatjana Smith | Women’s 100m breaststroke | Gold | R400,000 |
| Rocco Meiring (Coach) | Women’s 100m breaststroke | Gold | R100,000 |
| Tatjana Smith | Women’s 200m breaststroke | Silver | R200,000 |
| Rocco Meiring (Coach) | Women’s 200m breaststroke | Silver | R50,000 |
| Jo-Ane van Dyk | Women’s javelin | Silver | R200,000 |
| Terseus Liebenberg (Coach) | Women’s javelin | Silver | R50,000 |
| Relay Team (4 Members) | Men’s 4x100m Relay | Silver | R300,000 (Total) |
| Paul Gorries (Coach) | Men’s 4x100m Relay | Silver | R75,000 |
| Sevens Team (13 Members) | Rugby Sevens | Bronze | R650,000 (Total) |
| Philip Snyman (Coach) | Rugby Sevens | Bronze | R50,000 |
| Alan Hatherly | Men’s Cross-Country Cycling | Bronze | R75,000 |
| Phil Dixon (Coach) | Men’s Cross-Country Cycling | Bronze | R25,000 |
| Total | – | – | R2,175,000 |
This leaves around R2,825,000 for South Africa’s Paralympic team for medals.
In the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Goals, South Africa won seven medals, which included four golds.
However, of South Africa’s Tokyo gold medal winners, only Pieter du Preez remains in the hand-cycling event.
Looking at South Africa’s medal prospects, sprinter Mpumelelo Mhlongo is running for a medal after winning the 100 meters at the Paris and Kobe World Championships in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane is also touted for a potential podium finish after winning the Women’s Wheelchair Doubles at Wimbledon earlier this year.
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