Paralympics Medalist Joins The #OrCam_DreamTeam

The Paralympics is about to begin and we at OrCam wanted to celebrate its para-athletes overcoming their challenges and accomplishing the impossible of reaching the Tokyo 2021 Para-Games. The Paralympics, along with OrCam and many other organizations are part of the global effort to change its culture, making a transformation in people’s minds and challenging the stigma attached to disability.

Katrin Müller-Rottgardt is a thirty-eight year old visually impaired Paralympics medalist from Germany. Katrin won her first Paralympics medal in the 2016 summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She ran the one hundred meters dash with a new personal record of 11.99 seconds, coming in third to win the bronze medal. Katrin also competes in the two hundred, and four hundred meter running competitions. In addition to running, Katrin competes in the long jump. She is currently considered one of Germany’s most promising Paralympics athletes and is a strong contender for a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

The Pursuit of Becoming a Paralympics Medalist

Katrin was born with being able to see with only ten percent vision. Her vision later diminished to only two percent. She began training in running and jumping when she was just twelve years old. Before that, she tried ballet, swimming, and even gymnastics. She has won a number of medals in local competitions before she started training for the Paralympics in order to eventually become a Paralympics medalist.

In the year 2005, she received the award of the Berlin female Para Athlete of the year. Her athletic career was not always easy. In 2015, she was injured and she was unable to train or compete for two whole months. But Katrin’s motto has always been to “Never Give Up”. And she didn’t. She recovered in time to compete in the world championship in Doha later that year. But that was not her only recovery from an injury in order to compete in a national competition. Shortly before winning the medal in the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil, she injured her foot at the European championship in Italy. She managed to recover in time for the games in Brazil, and made her dream come true by finally becoming a Paralympics medalist.

Physical Therapist by Day

For those who meet Katrin at her day to day job, it would come as no surprise that she was able to recover from her injuries so quickly and so efficiently. When she isn’t training or competing, Katrin works as a licensed physical therapist. Helping others recover from sports and age-related injuries come naturally to her.

For many people in Germany, Katrin is an inspiring example of endurance, recovery, and victory. Both for people who participate in all types of athletics and to people who read of her accomplishments on the track. Besides being a member of the German Paralympics team and a globally recognized Paralympics medalist, Katrin has recently become a member of another team.

Katrin Joins the #OrCam_DreamTeam

OrCam Technologies, which invents devices for people with low vision has recruited Katrin to the #OrCam_DreamTeam. The #OrCam_DreamTeam is made up of twelve visually impaired individuals who like Katrin “Never Give Up”. Even though she is the only Paralympics medalist on the team,  more than a few of the other members are professional athletes.

When Katrin joined the team, she was congratulated by award-winning soccer player Leo Messi on her athletic achievements and winning attitude. That day, she also received her very own OrCam MyEye device. Currently, the most advanced device for people who are visually impaired.

The OrCam MyEye is the size of a finger, lightweight, and can attach to any pair of glasses. With her new device, Katrin can read text from any screen or printed book, magazine, printed letters, street signs, and even restaurant menus. She can recognize her patients, friends, and family member’s faces. Recognize barcodes, colors, money bills, and more. She can do all of that with her OrCam device, without requiring an internet connection. 

It’s on each of us to influence younger generations, teach them values of equality and respect, and share with them inspirational achievements of unique individuals in order to make our society more inclusive to everyone.