Katie Cosgriffe Explained

Katie Cosgriffe
Birth Date:2006 1, mf=y
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height:172cm
Sport:Paralympic swimming
Classification:S10
Club:Oakville Aquatic Club
Coach:Dave Tontini
Show-Medals:yes

Katie Cosgriffe (born January 9, 2006) is a Canadian Para swimmer who will make her Paralympic debut at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France. She competes in the S10 classification, which is for athletes with physical impairments.

Early life and education

Cosgriffe was born in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in Burlington, Ontario. She began swimming at a young age and was initially an able-bodied competitor. However, in 2021, she was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that affects her nervous system called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, leading to her classification as a Para swimmer.[1]

Swimming career

Cosgriffe continued to train and compete after her diagnosis, and was para-swimming classified in April 2023.[2] In 2023, she was named Canada's breakout Para swimmer, a recognition of her rapid rise in the sport.[3] She trains with the Oakville Aquatic Club and is coached by some of Canada's top swimming coaches. Her events include the 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke in the S10 classification.

At the 2022 Canada Summer Games, Cosgriffe won seven medals in para-swimming, including six gold.[4] She competed for Team Canada at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships and was the youngest member of the team. She reached reached three event finals, including a fourth-place finish in the S10 100-m butterfly and fifth in the 100 backstroke.[5]

She broke the broke the Canadian Record in the S10 100-m butterfly at the 2023 Canadian Swimming Trials with a time of 1:08.68, and then again at the 2024 Canadian Paralympic Trials with a time of 1:06.75.[6] Cosgriffe is set to compete in four events at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, representing Canada. She won bronze in the women's S10 100-metre butterfly.

Personal life

Cosgriffe recently graduated from high school and has dedicated herself to full-time training ahead of the 2024 Paralympics. She plans to study business administration and financial math at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oakville Para athlete talks competing in Paralympic games at 18 . CHCH . 2024-08-16 . 2024-08-27.
  2. News: 2023-09-03 . Canada's Katie Cosgriffe earns 1st career Paralympic medal with swimming bronze . 2024-09-03 . CBC.
  3. Web site: Team of 20 Para swimmers nominated to Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team . Canadian Paralympic Committee . 2024-08-15 . 2024-08-27.
  4. Web site: Allen . Jeffrey . 2022-08-12 . Burlington swimmer nabs boatload of medals at Canada Summer Games . 2024-09-03 . INhalton Local Online News . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2024-05-17 . Teenagers Cosgriffe and Maxwell excited about prospect of first Paralympics . 2024-09-03 . Canadian Paralympic Committee . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2024-05-15 . Local swimmer breaks Canadian swimming record at Olympic and Paralympic trials . 2024-09-03 . Oakville News . en.