KatjaDedekind
Achievements
Katja started her racing internationally at the age of 15 after qualifying for her first Paralympic Games in 2016. Since then Katja has represented Australia consecutively each year, and continues to aim for the stars. In her years since the start of he international career, Katja has won 3 Paralympic Bronze medals, a Commonwealth Gold, a World Gold and two Silvers, a one of each colour at a Pan Pacific Games. Katja hopes to swim til the 2032 Games, in her current home city, Brisbane.
Katja's Career so far
2016
Rio Paralympics
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After attending her first Australian Open Nationals, which coincided with the Olympic and Paralympic Trials, Katja was selected for her first national/international team. This started her international career, which saw Katja win her first international medal. A Bronze in the Womens S13 100m Backstroke.
2017
World Championships Mexico
After qualifying for her second Australian team, Katja was set to fly pff to Mexico. But unfortunately, as they were all preparing to fly, Mexico was hit by an earthquake and the decision was made to fly to Canada to have a friendly competition between the two countries.
2018
Para Pan Pacific Games Cairns
🥇🥈🥉
Her first Pan Pacific Games was on home soil in Cairns. With the advantage of a home crowd Katja swam her way to her first individual Gold, in the S13 Women's 100m Backstroke, as well as a silver and bronze in her other events.
2019
World Championships London
After overcoming some sudden health issues, Katja set off to compete at the World Championships in London. She made top 5 in all of her events and even competed in the very first visually impaired relay.
2021
Tokyo Paralympic Games
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After a very impressive trials, Katja qualified for her second Paralympic Games! In the 2months away from home she built relationships and worked hard as she got her last minute trainings in, later at the Games to win the S13 Women's 100m backstroke Bronze and the S13 Women's 400m freestyle in personal best times respectively.
2022
World Championships Madeira
🥇🥈🥈
After battling sickness and injury, Katja was set to swim at her third World Championships - this time in Madera, a little island off of Portugal. With three consecutive days of racing, Katja broke two Oceania Records, winning a Gold in the 50m freestyle and silver in the 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle.
2022
Commonwealth Games Birmingham
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Only 4 weeks after her World Championship campaign in Madeira, Katja was racing again at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. On day 2 she got another shot at her 50m freestyle, and not only won but broke the WORLD RECORD.
Awards
2015 - 2017
- 2015 Pacific School Games - Queensland Swimmer of the Meet
- Brisbane Multiclass 2016 Swimmer of the Year - Brisbane Swimming Awards
- Sporting Wheelies 2016 Junior Female Athlete of the Year
- 2017 McDonal's Queensland Short Course Championships - Multiclass Swimmer of the meet
- Finalist in ACHPER 2017 Queensland Schoolgirl Athlete of the Year
2019 - 2020
- Sporting Wheelies 2019 Most Improved Athlete of the Year
- Sunshine Coast Sports Federation Junior Athlete of the Month - Feburary 2020
- University of Sunshine Coast - Full Blue Sports Award 2020
- UniSport 2020 Most Outstanding Performance by a Student-Athlete with a Disability
2021 - 2022
- University of Sunshine Coast - 2021 Sportsperson of the Year
- UniSport 2021 Female Student-Athlete of the Year
- Brisbane Swimming - 2022 Brendan Keogh Athlete with a Disability of the Year
- Swimming Australia Female Excellence Award- World Champs 2022 and Commonwealth Games 2022
- Awarded Australian Sports Medal
- Patrons Para Athlete of the Year
- Queensland Government 2022 Queensland Sport Athlete with a Disability Award