Aussie Brothers Face Paralympic Scheduling Nightmare

For the Perris family, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games holds double the significance. Brothers Chad and Kane are both competing for Australia, a moment the siblings have been dreaming of.

Naturally, their events are unfolding on the same day, on the same morning, in venues more than an hour apart. This presents a logistical challenge for their family, who will have to divide their support between the two athletes.

Chad, 32, is a seasoned Paralympic 100-metre sprinter. Paris marks his third time at the Games, where he is set to run his heat about 11.40am (Paris time) on Sunday at the Stade de France, in the city’s north. For 27-year-old Kane, a cyclist, this is his Paralympic debut. He’ll race the one-kilometre tandem time trial qualifier at 11am at the velodrome, in a town west of Paris.

The brothers, who were both born with albinism and about 5 per cent vision, haven’t been together in more than a year because Chad lives in Canberra and Kane is in Perth. “We speak almost every day,” Kane says. “[Being here together] is something that we’ve dreamed of for a very, very long time. It hasn’t sunk in yet that it is a reality, and I don’t think it will until I see him.”

Family Divided, But Support Unwavering

Chad, who is nicknamed the “White Tiger”, said the scheduling was “a bit of a nightmare” for his parents, Ken and Sue. “It’s going to be a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for Mum and Dad,” Kane says. But for now, Ken says he is just excited to have two boys selected to wear the green and gold.

The couple has hatched a plan with their sons, which involves starting their day at the velodrome to watch Kane’s qualifier then final. They will miss Chad’s heat, but they’ll hail a couple of taxis along with other relatives to make the hour-long drive to the athletics stadium to watch the evening final. Kane hopes to make it, too.

A Long Road to the Paralympic Stage

Kane wasn’t always keen on high-performance sport. When it was initially suggested to him in 2020, his first thought was “absolutely not”. He had seen over many years the commitment and resilience it required of his older brother. But after mulling it over, he seized the challenge.

He had hardly any bike experience, but now is a tandem cyclist with sighted pilot Luke Zaccaria. They raced in the four-kilometre individual pursuit on Thursday, placing 14th, but Kane said the one-kilometre sprint was their specialty.

Kane’s journey to Paris has been rocky: in 2021, he sustained a serious back injury that put him out of action for 10 months, and a crash at the world championships this year left him with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Chad said he was immensely proud of what his brother had achieved in just four years. “Those guys have to be the elite of the elite. So it’s really impressive to see his rise, and I’m really pumped to have him alongside me here in Paris.”

A Tale of Two Sprints

Chad said he had a feeling of freedom going into these Games. He picked up bronze in Rio 2016, then came fifth in Tokyo. He also placed fourth in world championships the last two years.

“I don’t think I’ve got any pressure on my shoulders at all. Previous games there was pressure to try to execute the right race and back up medal performances,” he said.

“I’m just excited to go out and run fast, and I know I’m in very good shape.”

A Family's Triumph, Regardless of the Outcome

For the Perris family, the Paralympic Games are not just about medals and personal bests. It’s about the journey, the resilience, and the unyielding support they have for each other. Despite the logistical hurdles, they are united in their pride and admiration for their sons, who have both overcome incredible odds to reach the pinnacle of their respective sports.

The Perris brothers’ story is a testament to the power of family, the importance of perseverance, and the spirit of the Paralympic Games. The outcome of their races may be uncertain, but one thing is for sure: they have already achieved something extraordinary simply by standing on the Paralympic stage, side by side, representing their nation.