Trannell runs an embroidery business. Roxifi embroidery It appeals primarily to the horse community and provides her with an income: She makes blankets, saddle pads, ice boots, standing wraps, shirts and sweaters, “basically anything you can put through a hoop and a needle,” Trannell says. “If you want to play in the sandbox with the big boys, you’ve got to pay.”
Carly Weilminster, senior director of sports communications and social media for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), told SELF that because equestrian doesn’t have a national team, athletes don’t get paid a salary, but they can receive funding and grants “based on performance and experience” to help cover expenses associated with traveling and competing overseas. Paralympic athletes in other sports are similarly eligible to apply for a variety of scholarships. Grants and Funding Some people who spoke to SELF said the opportunities and promotion offered by the USOPC and third-party organizations are limited, and even then it’s not enough to cover expenses. (The USOPC, unlike other national Olympic and Paralympic committees, receives no financial support from governments and operates entirely on donations from fans and sponsorship from commercial partners.)
Recovering from a travel-related accident is not easy.
Competing as a disabled athlete comes with significant financial risk. Brim says that every time she travels with her team, at least one wheelchair gets lost or damaged, despite providing detailed instructions to airport staff on how to handle the equipment. “This is very unfortunate, and we want to see this change, because it’s just not fair.”
Brian SeamanSeaman, 34, a three-time Paralympic track and field athlete, agrees. He says airport staff need to be better trained on how to transport and store wheelchairs, which can cost thousands of dollars and months to replace. “Mobility equipment should be a completely separate issue from someone’s suitcase,” he tells SELF. When Seaman travels by plane, he can pack his racing chair, which costs about $15,000, in a box to avoid damage, but he can’t do that with his everyday wheelchair, which he’ll need as soon as he gets off the plane. (Wheelchairs that aren’t powered and can fit in an overhead bin or other designated spot in the cabin can be brought on the plane; if they don’t, they’re placed in the cargo hold with his checked luggage.)
Seaman’s everyday wheelchair, which is custom-fitted to his body, costs about $7,000, but his insurance company considers it a “luxury item” that’s nearly impossible to cover. So when his wheelchair was lost at the Miami airport and he was offered $100 as an apology, Seaman says it was a “traumatizing experience” to say the least. “There’s always a chance that a piece of mobility equipment will be lost or damaged, completely impairing or limiting your ability to move around safely,” Seaman says. “And it’s not a quick fix for anyone,” especially when sports equipment is involved.
For athletes with disabilities, health care can be difficult and expensive.
Additionally, compared to Olympic athletes, many Paralympic athletes find it harder, both physically and financially, to stay healthy. Their disabilities often require regular medical procedures, and they are more susceptible to illness and stress due to traumatic events or underlying conditions that cause them disabilities. All of this can be costly, especially in a country like the United States that doesn’t have universal health care.
