Australia have finished ninth on the medal tally at the 2024 Paralympics, as tougher competition and more investment in para-sports around the world were attributed to the fall in position.

It follows a sixth-place finish in Tokyo at the last Games, fifth in Rio (2016), London (2012) and Athens (2004), fourth in Beijing in 2008 and a first-place finish as the host nation in Sydney 2000, with 149 medals, including 63 golds.

Australia took home 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze in Paris, for a total of 63 medals, the nation’s worst medals haul since Arnhem in 1980 more than four decades ago.

The 2024 Games was also Australia’s lowest finish since the Seoul Games in 1988, when they ranked 12th.

China dominated with a whopping 220 medals, followed by Great Britain (124) and the United States (105), while the Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Ukraine and France also finished higher than Australia.

Paralympics Australia president Alison Creagh said competition was only “getting tougher” and attention would quickly turn to the Los Angeles Games in 2028, as well as Brisbane in 2032.

“Every country wants to succeed. Australia’s no different than that, and I think there’s a lot that we can do going forward to just be the best that we can be,” Creagh told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“This is elite sport. It happens in every sport, and we just need to gear our systems to support our athletes, our coaches, and make sure we deliver successes.”

Creagh said despite the medal table result, the competing athletes did Australia proud.

“I’m absolutely proud of the Australian Paralympic team. I know Australians are as well,” she said.

“Every (athlete) has worked incredibly hard.. Regardless of how they’ve performed, they represent Australia so brilliantly.”

Lauren Parker and James Turner flew the flag for Australia in the closing ceremony after their impressive Paris campaigns.

Parker became the first Australian to win gold in multiple sports in almost 50 years with her triathlon triumph, while Turner won two gold medals in the T36 100 metres and 400 metres.

Alexa Leary dominated in the pool in her comeback from a near-fatal bike crash three years ago, while West Australian wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario overcame personal tragedy to clain an emotional silver in the T54 marathon.