Katrina Webb


Katrina Lea Webb-Denis, OAM is an Australian Paralympic athlete with cerebral palsy. She has won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in athletics at three Paralympic Games.

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. 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. After winning the 100m at the 1996 Atlanta Games, she faced criticism over her legitimacy to compete at the Games.
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. She married former Australian Olympic water polo player Eddie Denis. Her first child Sebastian Zavier Denis was born on 27 December 2007.
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.

Athletic achievements