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]
Personal
Webb waves to the crowd as she runs during the torch relay at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer ParalympicsWebb autographs an Australian flag for school children fans at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
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 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]
Athletic achievements
Australian athlete Katrina Webb congratulates fellow athlete Amy Winters at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games