Getting James to the Games
10 years after a life-changing injury, James McQuillan is in with a chance to represent Australia at his first Paralympic Games in Paris, 2024. But what does it take to get your Para-athletes to the Games?
A sports injury left James with a fracture to his C5 vertebrae in 2014. James was playing a game when he ran straight into an opposing player’s leg and snapped his neck forward on impact. Enough to cause him permanent injury.
James was studying physiotherapy at the time and knew immediately that the prognosis was probably going to be life changing.
“There was a voice in my head going ‘gee, I hope we’ll just pop down to Melbourne and they’ll fix it up…’ but I think deep down I had a pretty good idea.”
- James
James spent eight years mastering his new situation and reconnecting with sports by participating in wheelchair rugby.
James McQuillan had only been playing wheelchair rugby for 11 months when he found himself in Europe representing Australia with the Australian Steelers. Now he is on the road to representing Australia at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
How Your Para-athletes prepare for the Paralympic Games
James recalls watching wheelchair rugby on TV during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, having never considered playing before, and that the very next year:
“Turns out I’m in the Team with them now, playing in the next major tournament after Tokyo. How unusual!”
That’s a very short turnaround, and the preparation to get James to the Games in Paris 2024 is anything but easy. Your Paralympians work incredibly hard to achieve their sporting dreams – and face a number of barriers on their way to glory.
March 2023
45,000 volunteers will be recruited to assist with both the Paris 2024 Games and Paralympic Games.
1 week to go
Para-athletes start packing their bags, getting ready to go. Travel can be expensive and timely for Para-athletes so careful prep must be undertaken.
28 August
Ready, set GO… Let the Games begin!
1 year to go
regular training sessions occur to keep the athletes’ skills at their optimal. Athletes work alongside their coaches to help them get their performance to the next level.
3 - 4 months to go
vision impaired or blind athletes start to train with a personal guide every time.
PARIS!
Your Team arrives and get ready for the Opening Ceremony on 28 August.
-
Regular training sessions occur to keep the athletes’ skills at their optimal. Athletes work alongside their coaches to help them get their performance to the next level.
-
45,000 volunteers will be recruited to assist with both the Paris 2024 Games and Paralympic Games.
-
Vision impaired or blind athletes start to train with a personal guide every time.
-
Para-athletes start packing their bags, getting ready to go. Travel can be expensive and timely for Para-athletes so careful prep must be undertaken.
-
Your Team arrives and get ready for the Opening Ceremony on 28 August.
-
Ready, set GO… Let the Games begin!
Prepping for Paris Playlist
Another key part of Paralympics preparation? A killer playlist! Here’s what your Para-athletes are listening to, to pump them up for the road to Paris.
What song would you add to your pump-up playlist? Tell us and we’ll add it to the list!
