Katarina
Roxon

Katarina Roxon qualified for her fifth Paralympic Games by beating the A standard in the women’s SB8 100-m breaststroke.  She is the first Canadian female swimmer to compete at five Paralympics.

Roxon showed she is still among the best in her prime event. At her seventh world championships in 2023, Roxon secured the bronze medal in the 100-metre breast to repeat her performance from the 2022 worlds.

Also at the 2022 worlds, she broke Canadian records in the 200-m individual medley SM9 and the 50-m freestyle S9.

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Roxon was a member of the women’s 4×100-m freestyle relay (34 points) that captured bronze. Roxon finished fourth in the 100-m breaststroke SB8, 10th in the 200-m individual medley SM9 and 17th in the 100-m freestyle S9. Roxon also swam breaststroke in the women’s 4×100-m medley team that was disqualified in the final.

Roxon kept herself busy during the 2020-21 pandemic. Along with keeping sharp with her swimming in training, she also contributed to her community.

In 2021, Roxon participated in the virtual SwimForHope which raised over $50,000 for cancer and Newfoundland and Labrador Swimming Clubs. Over that period, she’s also been a spokesperson for the #HealthyMeBetterMe campaign by Sports Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2019, Roxon served notice she is primed to compete at her fourth consecutive Paralympic Games after a double medal performance at the IPC World Para Swimming Championships. Roxon won the silver medal in the SB8 100-m breaststroke and helped Canada to bronze in the 4X100-m freestyle relay.

At the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Roxon finished sixth in the S9 100-m freestyle and SB9 100-m breaststroke. Roxon also placed eighth in the SM10 200-m individual medley. It was her third career Commonwealth Games.

At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Roxon brought home her first Paralympic medal, a gold in the 100-m breaststroke in Canadian record time. She was also on the 2008 and 2012 team.

Roxon reached new heights in 2015. She collected six medals including gold in the 100-m breaststroke at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. At the 2015 IPC World Championships she struck bronze in Canadian record time in the 100-m breast.

At the 2013 IPC World Championships held in Montreal, Roxon helped Canada to the silver medal in the women’s 4×100-m freestyle relay. It was one of six events she competed in at the Montreal worlds. She also reached three other finals. Roxon competed at her second Paralympic Games in London in 2012. She was among Canada’s busiest athletes, competing in eight events in the S8 category.

At age 15, she was the youngest Canadian swimmer on the Beijing 2008 Canadian Paralympic Team. She has competed at four world championships, including in 2006 at age 13.