Diagnosed at age 5 with bilateral sensorineural/conductive hearing loss, Dr. Kaitlyn Weatherby received bilateral hearing aids. Growing up was a little different for her, but the challenges associated with severe hearing loss did not stop her from doing what she loved. She grew a passion for the water and became an avid competitive swimmer from the age of 9 through college. Kaitlyn found an opportunity to combine her love of swimming with her involvement in the deaf community. She was chosen to compete with Team USA at the World Deaf Swimming Championships in San Antonio, TX (2015) and Sao Paulo, Brazil (2019).
Flash forward to 2022, she was selected to Team USA again, this time as captain for the women’s swim team, for the Deaflympics. The games were held in Caxias de Sol, Brazil. The Deaflympics are an international competition, similar to the Olympics, that are held every 4 years for individuals deaf/ hearing loss in their better ear of <55dB.
Kaitlyn was honored to be a part of the Opening Ceremony, walking closely behind the American flag in front of thousands of people. Coming out of retirement from collegiate swimming, her only expectations were to embrace every second of the experience and leave everything in the pool. This resulted in her coming home with 5 medals, 4 gold from relay performances and 1 individual bronze in the 200m breaststroke. It truly was a once in a lifetime, indescribable experience that showed that hard work, determination, and grit pay off.
Of course Kaitlyn went on to accomplish other goals, like becoming a physical therapist but her Olympic Dreams are far from over! The 2025 Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan this November and Kaitlyn will be again joining Team USA! This time she’s trading in her cap and goggles for her skills as a PT…Kaitlyn will be the swim team’s personal physical therapist, representing 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy! She is beyond excited to play a small role in helping these incredible athletes perform at their best against the best of best in deaf swimming on the largest stage. Go Team USA 🇺🇸
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