Create an experience with Katrina Porter OAM

Katrina started competitive swimming at the age of 10 after several years of hydrotherapy to assist with her physical disability, Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, which causes muscle weakness and joint stiffness.  After taking up swimming competitively in 2001, Katrina competed in the Athens Paralympics in 2004, and the IPC World Championships in Durban in 2006 where she won a Bronze medal for 100m Breaststroke SB6, and a gold medal in the 5km Open Water S8.  After setting her first World Record in 2007, Katrina went on to compete at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing where she claimed the Gold medal in the 100m Backstroke S7, breaking the world record both in the heat and final in the process.  In recognition of this achievement Katrina was awarded an Order of Australia Medal later on that year. In 2009, Katrina competed at the 2011 IPC World Shortcourse Championships, taking home 3 silver medals and 1 Bronze Medal. After several years living, training, and racing in Italy, Katrina relocated to Sydney after receiving an Academic and Sporting Scholarship to the University of Sydney to finalise her training preparations for the 2012 Paralympic Games. In London, Katrina finished 5th in the 100m Breaststroke SB6, 7th in the 100m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle S7. Katrina was a finalist for the WA Young Australian of the Year award in 2010, and in 2011 was named the Western Australian Multi Class Swimmer of the Year for 8 consecutive years. Whilst studying a Bachelor of Commerce and training full time for the 2012 London Paralympic Games, Katrina also worked part time at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Policy and Protocol Division. Since the London Games, Katrina has switched her focus to open water swimming and surf lifesaving and is an active member of North Cottesloe Surf Club. After graduating from university at the end of 2013, she has commenced a career in marketing and communications at the WA Sports Federation.

• Gold Medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games (100m Backstroke S7)
• Female Team Captain of the Australian Paralympic Swimming Team- London 2012
• Finalist in WA Young Person of the Year 2010