Imagine winning a bronze medal at the Paralympics—and getting a special bottle of champagne to go with it. You decide to save it for a meaningful occasion, holding onto it for years. Then one day, you find out it’s gone.
That’s exactly what happened to this Redditor, who was devastated to learn that her sister’s friends drank the irreplaceable bottle during a night out, without permission.
Now she’s furious and asking the internet: would she be right to never forgive her sister for this? Read the full story below.
The woman had won a bronze medal at the Paralympics and received a bottle of champagne to go with it
Image credits: rosshelenphoto / freepik (not the actual photo)
She’d been saving it for a special occasion, only to discover one day that it was gone
Image credits: faststocklv / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Prostock-studio / envatoelements (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Outrageous-Ad-9057
The woman shared more details in the comments
What you might not have known about the Paralympics
Image credits: gerain0812 / freepik (not the actual photo)
Ever tried playing tennis and struggling to catch up with a ball flying across the court?
Now imagine doing that in a wheelchair.
That’s just one example of what makes the Paralympics so incredible to watch. The athletes achieve phenomenal results, pushing the limits of what the human body is capable of, regardless of disability.
Yet for many, the Paralympics are treated as a side event to the Olympics, often overlooked or misunderstood. But the truth is, the Paralympics are just as intense, inspiring, and worthy of attention.
Here are some things you might not have known about the Paralympics, from their history to the unique adaptations that make the games possible.
It all began in 1948, when Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition for 16 World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries in Stoke Mandeville, England. Four years later, athletes from Holland joined, and the Paralympic Movement officially began.
The first official Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960, shortly after the Olympics ended. The event welcomed 400 athletes from 23 countries, competing across eight sports.
Since then, the Paralympic Games have become one of the largest sporting events in the world. Held every four years in the same year as the Olympics, they’ve played a vital role in promoting social inclusion and changing public perceptions of disability.
Today, the Paralympics are the third biggest sporting event in terms of ticket sales, trailing only behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.
But what’s truly fascinating is how athletes adapt to compete at such a high level.
For instance, in blind football and goalball, the balls are filled with bells so players can hear their location. During the match, the audience must stay completely silent until a goal is scored. Only then are cheers allowed.
And in wheelchair basketball, the hoop is set at the same height as in the Olympics. Athletes remain seated in their wheelchairs, making powerful shots without the ability to jump.
Despite the dedication, skill, and physical effort required, Paralympic athletes are still not always treated equally, especially when it comes to prize money.
In Japan, for example, Paralympic gold medalists received 3 million yen (about $20,780), compared to the 5 million yen awarded to Olympic gold medalists in the same year.
Some of the biggest disparities can be seen in Hong Kong and Singapore.
In Hong Kong, gold medalists at the Paralympics receive 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars (around $192,000), far less than the HK$6 million their Olympic counterparts earn. Silver and bronze Paralympians receive HK$750,000 and HK$375,000, respectively.
In Singapore, gold Paralympians are awarded 500,000 Singapore dollars (roughly $380,000), only half of what Olympic gold medalists receive. Silver and bronze medals bring in $300,000 and $150,000.
One reason for this discrepancy is that, in places like Singapore, these rewards are funded by non-governmental organizations that rely on private sponsorships. That means Paralympic and Olympic athletes are backed by entirely different sources—leading to vastly different payouts.
So while the Paralympic Games have come a long way in terms of visibility and global impact, there's still progress to be made in ensuring that athletes receive equal recognition and reward for their efforts.
Image credits: pressmaster / freepik (not the actual photo)
Many readers felt she was completely justified in being upset
Some, however, argued that she should have stored the bottle more safely
A couple of people shared stories of similar disappointments
