The triple Paralympic gold medallist these days leads treks to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
There is a beautiful irony and synchronicity in Katrina Webb’s story.
It had taken many years of hiding and intense teenage worry about being exposed, but once she made the profound decision to publicly acknowledge her difference, her life’s journey took an eminently different trajectory.
But more than just publicly acknowledge her difference, she took one step further and elected to celebrate it.
The ‘difference’ was a case of mild cerebral palsy on her right side, discovered while she was on a netball scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. It meant she was eligible for the Paralympics – a possibility that was miles away from a developing but often-injured netballer.
In short, the next 12-15 years of Katrina Webb’s life expanded opportunities and experiences never conceived of by her before. Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder which is incurable but not progressive.
At the Paralympics of Atlanta, Sydney and Athens – from 1996 to 2004 – Katrina won three gold medals, three silver and one bronze in the 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump.
Celebrating difference and diversity became her personal theme – and she decided to make that theme the core of her professional life after retiring from competing in athletics.
She founded Newday Leadership, a business that is dedicated to the realisation of potential within every human being.
A stunning array of opportunities opened – and in an untouchable moment – she was the first athlete to enter Stadium Australia in front of a television audience of 2.2 billion people – carrying the torch as part of the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.
Alongside Roger Federer and others, she was invited to present to the United Nations in New York on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee.
She has given Ted Talks on how to create healthy thinking. She also has a physiotherapy degree.
She leads treks in Nepal to the Everest Base Camp. Her programs are centred upon leadership, resilience and wellbeing and testimonials from world-wide executives demonstrate the impact and influence her philosophy has on individuals, teams and workplaces.
This statement sums up in a simple sentence the philosophy behind Katrina Webb’s huge success: “It’s in owning our individual difference that sets us apart and unites us together.”
She has been inducted into the SA Sports Hall of Fame and Athletics SA Hall of Fame.
