Trunnell owns an embroidery business called Roxifi Embroidery that appeals primarily to the equine community and provides her with an income. She makes blankets, saddle pads, ice boots, footmuffs, as well as shirts and sweaters, “basically anything I can pin and thread a needle into,” Trunnell says, because “if you want to play in the sandbox with the big boys, then you’re going to have to pay.”
Carly Weilminster, senior director of sports communications and social media for the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF), tells SELF that equestrian sports do not have a national team, so athletes do not receive stipends, but they can receive funding and grants “based on performance and experience” to offset the costs associated with international travel and competition. The same is true for Paralympians in other sports, who can apply for a variety of subsidies and financing that the USOPC and third-party organizations offer. But some of those who spoke to SELF say these opportunities are limited, not well-advertised and still not enough to cover their expenses. (The USOPC, unlike other national Olympic and Paralympic committees, receives no government financial support and is funded entirely by donations from fans and sponsorships from commercial partners.)
It’s not easy to recover from travel-related setbacks.
Coming to competitions as an athlete with a disability also comes with significant financial risks. Brim says that almost every time he travels with a team, at least one person’s wheelchair is lost or damaged, despite providing airport staff with detailed instructions on how to handle the equipment. “It’s a huge bummer, and we want to see changes around this because it’s so unnecessary.”
Brian SiemannSiemann, 34, a three-time Paralympian track and field athlete, agrees. He says airport staff need better training on how to transport and store wheelchairs because they can take thousands of dollars and months to replace. “A mobility device should be in a completely different category of concern than someone’s suitcase,” he tells SELF. When Siemann flies, he might pack his roughly $15,000 racing chair extra tightly to prevent damage, but he can’t do that with his everyday chair because he needs it as soon as he gets off the plane. (Wheelchairs can be taken on planes if they’re non-motorized and fit in overhead bins or other designated areas within the cabin, but if they don’t fit, they’re placed in the cargo area of the plane with checked baggage.)
Siemann’s everyday chair costs about $7,000 because it’s custom-made for his body, but his insurance considers it “a luxury,” meaning it’s nearly impossible to get it covered. So when an airport in Miami lost it and offered a $100 apology, it was a “shocking experience,” to say the least, he says. “There’s always a greater-than-probable chance that some part of your mobility device will be lost or damaged, which will completely impair and restrict your ability to move around safely,” Siemann says. “And it’s not a quick fix for anyone,” especially when sports equipment is involved.
Healthcare can be complicated and expensive for athletes with disabilities.
It’s also more challenging — physically, yes, but also financially — for many Paralympic athletes to stay healthy compared to their Olympic peers. Some disabilities often require regular medical attention and can make athletes more vulnerable to illness or stress because of the traumatic events or underlying conditions that cause them — all of which can get expensive, especially in countries like the U.S. that don’t have the same universal health care.