Katrina Webb
Australian Paralympic athlete
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Katrina Lea Webb-Denis, OAM[1] (born 22 May 1977)[2] is an Australian Paralympic athlete with cerebral palsy.[2] She has won gold, silver and bronze medals in athletics at three Paralympic Games.[3]
Katrina Webb in 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Katrina Lea Webb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 May 1977 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Personal
Webb has a mild form of cerebral palsy which was diagnosed when she was two years old. Her parents did not tell her of the disability.[4] Her cerebral palsy was diagnosed again when she won an Australian Institute of Sport netball scholarship. AIS staff found a weakness in her right leg, which was shorter than her left leg. She was then encouraged to become involved in disability sport.[4] After winning the 100m at the 1996 Atlanta Games, she faced criticism over her legitimacy to compete at the Games.[4]
She has a physiotherapy degree from the University of South Australia. Her father Darryl played league football for North Adelaide Football Club. Her cousins are Olympic basketballer Rachael Sporn and AFL players Kieran and Trent Sporn.[5] She married former Australian Olympic water polo player Eddie Denis. Her first child Sebastian Zavier Denis was born on 27 December 2007.[6]
She was the first torch bearer to enter the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. In 2006 Katrina was selected to present on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee to the United Nations in New York.
In November 2017, Webb was inducted into the South Australian Sports Hall of Fame.[7] Webb was appointed Deputy Chef de Mission for the Australian Team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.[8]
Athletic achievements
- 1994 all Australian Netball Squad 17 & under
- 1995 Australian Institute of Sport Netball Scholarship
- 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games: Gold 100m, Gold 200m, Silver Long Jump
- 1997 Medal of the Order of Australia for her gold medals in Atlanta[1]
- 1998 IPC Athletics World Championships: Silver 400m, Silver 100m & Gold Javelin & WR[5]
- 1997–2000 South Australian Athlete Ambassador for Health & Disabilities
- 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games: Silver 400m, Silver 100m and Bronze 200m;[3] Australian Sports Medal[9]
- 2001 Centenary Medal[10]
- 2002 World Athletic Championships: Silver 100m and Silver 400m[5]
- 2004 New World record for the 200m T38 class
- 2004 Athens Paralympic Games: Gold 400m[3][11] and Paralympic Record
- 2004 South Australian Sports Institute Female Athlete of the Year
- 2005 Australian Institute of Sport Athletics Scholarship Canberra
- 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Silver 100m[5]
