Table 4.

Major themes, subthemes, and absolute frequency of coded references.

Code	Subcode	Frequency
Visibility of Paralympic sport in media	Satisfaction/improvement in recent years	8
	Sporadic media attention	12
	Comparative treatment vs. Olympic athletes	17
	Desire for authentic representation	12
Stereotyped media narratives	“Pity”/charity frame	12
	“Superhero” inspirational narrative	12
	Focus on tragedy/disability story	10
	Questioning athletic legitimacy (“not real sport”)	6
Role of social media (self-representation)	Enhancing public visibility and reach	1
	Tools for identity control and narrative framing	10
	Limitations of social media	5
Suggestions for media improvement	Learn about the sport: “do your homework”	4
	Focus on Athletic performance	16
	Avoid stereotypical narratives	14
	Ensure equal and consistent coverage.	5
	Engage with athletes and tell holistic stories.	5