Paralympic Champ Returns to Sydney Marathon She Calls Hardest

Days after carrying Australia's flag and winning two medals at the Paris Paralympics, Madison de Rozario returned home to win the 2024 Sydney Marathon in one of the most emotional races of her life.

Now the 32-year-old wheelchair racer is back for another shot at the 42-kilometer course from North Sydney to the Opera House. This time, she's racing it as an official World Marathon Major, the sport's highest designation.

"Of all the majors, it's the hilliest," de Rozario told ABC Sport. "I find it the most difficult."

The Perth native has called Sydney home for years, training on the roads around Olympic Park under legendary coach Louise Sauvage. She's conquered the Sydney course twice before, but the steep climbs make it uniquely challenging among the world's elite marathons.

De Rozario made a tough call to skip last year's race, the first with Major status. Watching from the sidelines wasn't easy, but she needed the break after an emotionally overwhelming Paris Paralympics where she competed just days after her father's death.

"That was one of the most emotional roller coaster two weeks of my life," she said. This year, she's laser-focused on the marathon distance exclusively, no longer splitting training between track and road racing.

Why This Inspires

She's not racing alone. Tatyana McFadden, arguably the greatest female wheelchair marathoner in history, will line up alongside her. The 37-year-old American has nine Paralympic gold medals and 24 World Marathon Major wins, more than any other woman.

McFadden specifically chose Sydney for its reputation as a challenging course. "I like challenging things," she said simply.

Her presence at the race carries extra weight. In 2017, doctors diagnosed her with a severe blood clotting disorder that nearly ended her career. Twenty months of recovery later, she's back at elite level, setting world records and medaling at majors.

The American champion sees the 2028 LA Paralympics as a chance to elevate Para sport in her home country. "My challenge for the US is really to put Paralympics first," she said, noting that mainstream media still undercovers Paralympic athletes.

She points to the Marathon Majors as models for integration, where wheelchair racers compete alongside runners and receive equal attention. Boston, Chicago, and New York have shown what's possible when organizers prioritize Para athletes.

This weekend's race represents more than competition between two champions. It's a celebration of resilience, hometown pride, and the growing visibility of Paralympic sport on the world stage.