Katherine
Proudfoot

Katherine Proudfoot was inspired to begin competing in Para-sport while watching the 2004 Paralympic Games, and the following year her Paralympic potential was confirmed at the first Paralympics Australia Paralympic Talent Search Day in Newcastle.

Just one year later, Katherine broke the world record in javelin at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Assen, the Netherlands, a tremendous effort for anyone, but especially for someone born into a non-athletic family. She followed this with a season best performance at her Paralympic debut in Beijing, which was enough to bag a silver medal.

With only a few years’ experience under her belt, Katherine broke the Commonwealth record in discus at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand to snare bronze, and matched this result at London 2012 when the Australian team complained that an outdated point-scoring system was being used.

Following a series of strong performances in the lead-up to the Rio Games, Katherine met expectations with bronze in shot put, putting a distance of 9.70m.

Although she was born in New Zealand and spent three years in Wales, Katherine is an avid Australian sports supporter. In her spare time she enjoys completing mind mazes, Mensa puzzles and cryptic crosswords.