As one of the youngest members of the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team, Katja Dedekind punched well beyond her weight when she won a bronze medal on debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Born in Durban, South Africa, but raised in the Sunshine State, Katja’s love affair with Para-swimming goes as far back as she can remember. While goalball came and went – at one stage, she trained alongside the Australian women’s team – Para-swimming remained a constant.

And in 2016, those many years of commitment finally began to pay off. At the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide, SA, Katja won a gold medal in the women’s 4x50m freestyle, bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle, and notched fifth place in the women’s 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

Having rightfully earned a place on the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team, Katja knew she had to make the most of her first …

Read More
Date of birth
17 August 2001
Sport
Para-swimming
Past Paralympic Games

Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020

Impairment
Vision Impairment – Blindness in her right eye and peripheral vision loss in her left eye
How acquired
Congenital
Residence
Sippy Downs, QLD
Occupation
Student
Started competing
2012
First competed for Australia
2016
Sport career highlights

Winning a full set of medals at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships, and silver at the 2019 World Para-swimming World Series in Melbourne, VIC

Greatest sporting moments

Winning a bronze medal in the women’s 100m backstroke S13 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Heroes/role models
Favourite quote
If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you - Fred DeVito

Disciplines

  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 50m freestyle Classification: S13
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 100m backstroke Classification: S13
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 100m freestyle Classification: S13
  • Sport: Para-swimming Discipline: 400m freestyle Classification: S13

Social Media

  • instagram
  • twitter