DE ROZARIO IS MORE THAN A SPORTS STAR

Madison de Rozario is more than a Sports Star. She is quickly becoming the voice of the Paralympic movement. Going from being the youngest Australian at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, at age 14, Madison is now a leader of her sport not only in Australia but globally. 

Ahead of the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track & Field Championships and fresh off her WA Sports Star Award at the 2022 SportsWest Awards, we caught up with Madison.  

In the last 12 months the WA athlete has added three Paralympic Medals, a Paralympic Record, the New York Marathon title, and an OAM to her name. To wrap up this extraordinary period, Madison became the first para-athlete to win the distinguished WA Sports Star Award at the recent Sport West Awards.

Up against an all-star list, including fellow Athletics representative Peter Bol, Madison is more excited about what the Sports Star Award means for her community and future Paralympians.

“The message this sends is unparalleled for the visibility for all athletes. I want to see athletes take the honour because they are an athlete, not because they met a category requirement. The message is so important for future athletes, it’s unreal. What that says is substantial and I am so proud to call WA home because of this.” Said De Rozario.

“Wearing the Green and Gold is an honour, but it requires you to represent your community. So to win, that builds on the huge momentum we’ve seen in the sporting world.”

A three-time World Champion and two-time Commonwealth Games Champion, Madison had three Paralympic silvers to her name before Tokyo. After placing fifth in her opening event, the T54 5000m, she went on to claim two gold and a bronze medal.

In the T54 1500m, she placed third in 3:28.24, before returning to her own classification T53 where she won the 800m gold medal in 1:45.99. Coached by Paralympic Champion Louise Sauvage OAM, Madison was able to revel in the moment. 

“When I crossed the line [in the 800m] I had a moment where I wasn’t just relieved, it was more than that. I had that moment in the last 100m, and I knew I had a bit of a gap. Louise was on the finish line, and it felt like everything that I’ve dreamed a win would feel like.”

Next for Madison was the marathon, where she achieved one of the great moments of the Games for Australia. Madison had to sprint home and surge to a stunning victory in a Paralympic record of 1:38.11.

Madison’s two gold Paralympic medals at one Paralympics is rare. The last Australian female Paralympian in athletics to win two gold was Lisa McIntosh in 2008 and in the last 20 years, previously only Lisa and Amy Winters (2004) have achieved the feat.

To top it off, Madison then backed up her sensational Tokyo performances winning the women's elite wheelchair event at the 2021 New York Marathon. She is the first Australian woman, either in a wheelchair or open events, to claim victory on the 42km course.

Reflecting on the para-athletics movement and the increased visibility, De Rozario is excited to help champion and progress it even further.

“The impact the Tokyo Paralympics has had on the paralympic movement has been a joy to watch. It feels so much bigger than it ever has. It has been an experience that has solidified who I am as a person. It’s shown me everything I am. It’s ticked so many of the boxes that I’ve left unticked, so to see them fulfilled is so incredible. It’s been a strange year, but really good.”

Madison now turns her focus to the upcoming Australian Track & Field Championships in Sydney as she builds towards her second Commonwealth Games over in Birmingham.

The 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track & Field Championships are set for Sydney Olympic Park from Saturday the 26 March till Sunday 3 April. De Rozario will line up in the Open Women’s 1500m Wheelchair event on Thursday 31 March.

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For more information about how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or admin@athleticswest.com.au.

By David Smith, Athletics West
Extra reporting by Athletics Australia
Photo Credit: Getty Images 
Posted: 17/3/2022