Kate
Naess

‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’

This line by Randy Pausch is memorable for Kate Naess, who knows all too well that the cards dealt are not always fair.

It was the devastating and sudden passing of her mum, Vicki, that first inspired Kate to transition from Para-equestrian to Para-triathlon in 2014. An ambition born from personal loss, Vicki’s memory remains a driving force for Kate as she continues to build her reputation as one of the best Para-triathletes in the world.

Kate made her Paralympic debut in the women’s PT4 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where she finished fifth in a field of 11 and just over a minute outside the podium. This achievement was particularly notable given Kate’s background in Para-equestrian, which saw her represent Australia on multiple occasions including the 2010 International Federation for Equestrian Sports World Equestrian Games in Lexington, USA.

While Para-equestrian and Para-triathlon share few commonalities, Kate’s competitive instinct and motivation to improve are ever-present. Since Rio, she has excelled at World Cup level, and is now regarded among the Australian Paralympic Team’s strongest medal hopes for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Cheering Kate on in Japan will be her loving family including her husband Jarle and their baby boy Henrik, who they welcomed in 2018. Incredibly, Kate returned to the Para-triathlon circuit just six months after Henrik’s birth.

Kate holds a Master’s degree in industrial and organisational psychology.