CELEBRATING THE AUSSIE SPIRIT WITH ETTO AUSTRALIAN STORIES VOL. 9
The fact I only had the clothes on my back and a few possessions in my hand luggage, and none of the necessities that we think we need and the generosity of the people in Argentina who were offering me their clothing. I was like, I don’t need it, I’m a swimmer, I just need my bathers, cap and goggles!
Kat Poter is a three time Paralympian, representing Australia at the Athens, Beijing and London Olympics. The first time at just 15 years old, the second time winning Gold, and the third as the Australian swimming team captain.
She has done the Rottnest Channel Swim as a solo swimmer, was nominated as a WA Young Australian of the year finalist in 2009, is a Senior Associate at Price Waterhouse Cooper, a seven times multi-class swimmer of the year, and dog Mum to rescued pup Tom who she met on a trip to the Pilbara!
We chat to Kat about water as therapy, what to do once you've won a gold medal at the Paralympics, losing your luggage in Argentina, how nature nourishes, and the importance of community and staying humble.
What kind of Australian environment do you live in?
I’m very fortunate that I live in a very costal sea scape environment in the lands of Noongar Whadjuk in Cottesloe, WA and spend a lot of time in the bush. I have a tattoo on each forearm, one is of a wave of my love of the ocean and the other is of a cowboy hat which is symbolising my love of the country.
You spend a lot of time in the water and on the ocean. What is the pull for you toward water?
It’s a real sense of freedom for me. When I’m in the water I feel like I’m at one with the water. Nature really has control in that aspect in terms of the power of the water, you can’t beat it, it’s going to take control. For me as well, I’m completely free of any obstacles I have on the land, so I don’t have to worry about falling or tripping, I don’t have to use crutches or a wheelchair, I’ve got complete control of my own body even when nature has control of the water.
You started competitive swimming at 10 years old, following several years of hydrotherapy to help with your physical disability, Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, how did water help you physically, mentally and in relationship with your body?
The water has been everything and more. At first it was used as a form of therapy so, being born with a disability, my parents were faced with two choices, one was a pathway of surgical interventions and spending a lot of time in the operating theatre, on the wards, wrapped in plaster ect, or the other avenue was down the hydrotherapy path and spending lots of time in water and it all ties back into that element of freedom.
My disability is essentially stiff joints, when you think about being stiff then when you want to be free you want to jump in the water because you can move around with no obstacles around you. For me it’s a place where physically I’m 100% at peace with my body and its limitations because I don’t have to worry about them in the water. Mentally it’s a complete form of meditation, your removed from screens, radio, noise. When you’re underwater all you all you can hear is your breath or the sound of the fish. For me it’s meditation at its purest form.
Then emotionally with my body it’s allowed me to accept the way that I am because when I’m in the water I don’t have to worry about how I look because in the water everybody looks the same.
What gives you motivation & drive to compete?
Back in the day it was a little bit different to now as it was a very serious profession that I chose. To represent Australia I did have to sacrifice a lot, but it was worth everything and more. Back when I was competing it was for the glory and the status of being either Paralympic champion, Australian champion or world champion, it was a lot of the accolades that came with it. Now, being competitive is just about connecting with my local community and getting amongst like-minded people who enjoy spending time around water, whether that be in the swimming pool, in the ocean, or in a lake.
I don’t mind if I come first, second or last because it’s about meeting people, having similar interests, enjoying each other’s company and having a coffee afterwards and being there for one another whether it’s in a physical or emotional sense. People go through a lot these days and I think swimming can really bring people together and unite us.
What was it like joining the Paralympic team the first time at 15 years old?
It was very daunting! It came about pretty unexpectedly. I went to the trials as a bit of a warm up for what I thought would be my debut for years later on the Beijing team and when I made it onto the Athens team. It was very exciting but very unnerving because I didn’t know what was upon me.
All that I’d experienced was essentially watching it on television. I was just a fifteen year old school girl, am I ready for this? But as it got closer it was just the most exciting thought of being able to represent my country at such a young age. Terrifying but exhilarating would be my two words.
In comparison, what was it like competing 8 years later at the London Paralympic Games with these additional years of wisdom and insight under your belt?
It was absolutely phenomenal the transition that I was able to go through from Athens as a real junior, the youngest female on the team with very wide eyes, who didn’t really know what the world was all about or what to expect. To eight years later when I was nominated as team captain for the Australian Paralympic swimming team. To be able to go full circle from a naïve fifteen year old, to twenty three year old (which is still really young now I think about it, at the time I didn’t think so!) who had been there three times. Being able to mentor the next generation that was essentially me eight years prior was such a privilege.
The world interest of the Paralympic movement had shifted so much in those eight years too. I remember for the Athens Paralympics, we had thirty minutes a day on ABV TV midday so people who were working would never even know the Paralympics were on. Whereas London had a whole dedicated TV channel on 24 hours a day showing the Paralympics. The amount of people that were invested, whether it was through a personal connection or genuinely interested in the competitive sport at the highest level, was a complete 180.
Did competing ever take the joy out of swimming for you?
Yeah, it did actually. I did lose a love of the sport of swimming especially immediately after Beijing Paralympics. When I won gold in Beijing that was the absolute highlight of my life and what I’d always strived to achieve. But, when I came back I really didn’t know what I was dong it for. I’d invested so much of myself to win a gold that whether or not I enjoyed the sport didn’t actually matter because it was all for a higher purpose. Once I’d achieved that goal I didn't know what the point was anymore, I didn’t really know why I was there. I didn’t really set out to win 10 gold medals, I wanted to win ‘a’ gold medal and that was it! It was really challenging to find the ‘why’ so I did take a step back.
The four years between Beijing and London I struggled to understand my motivation, which was constantly changing. I knew I wanted to go to London but the why I wanted to go was really challenging. I wasn't sure if I was going to be up to the task if I wasn't 100% motivated.
When I officially retired from swimming in 2012, I was at a point where I thought I don’t care if I ever swim again. But, even when I got home from the London Paralympics I went to the pool and went for a swim because it was what made me feel most me.
With all your travels on the competitive swimming circuit, do you have any fond memories or highlights?
Before the 2004 Paralympics, I was selected to go to Argentina as part of an Australian youth team. I’d never travelled overseas before without my parents, all I had was my suitcase, and my suitcase actually got lost! I was only 14 then and I remember thinking thank goodness I packed my bathers, goggles and cap in my hand luggage because that’s all I need!
I feel that was such a life lesson at a young age and without the pressure I ended up going on to win 5 gold metals and PB-ed in every race for that meet.
My suitcase ended up in Chile and I did this whole competition and performed really well, that was a really pivotal lesson for me to learn that I can compete no matter what the circumstances are.
The fact I only had the clothes on my back and a few possessions in my hand luggage, and none of the necessities that we think we need and the humbleness of the people in Argentina who were offering me their clothing. I was like, I don’t need it, I’m a swimmer, I just need my bathers, cap and goggles! Understanding how kind people were was a really beautiful thing.
To any up-and-coming young swimmers, or competitive athletes for that matter, what would your gold nugget of advice be?
Stay humble and remain connected. The reason I say that is because a lot of people go on to be very successful athletes, but once you think you’re above everyone else that’s when the world comes crashing down cause you don’t have those people around you to make you feel ‘you’, you have people around who see you as a superstar, but they don’t value you for the person that you are. Remaining humble keeps you grounded and valued as a person, not as an athlete/musician/artist/creative person.
In the bare basics we are all human beings born on this planet together and while some are good at some things, others are better at other things, it’s just that we are all human beings and it’s about remembering that. And remaining connected.
Probably some of the greatest years of my life have been the last few years because I have got so many amazing community networks that I’m a part of. Whether it’s through my local area or though the state of WA, though my interest in country music, I have found so many people in different areas of life that I love and that’s not just swimming. It’s my love of the local dog park, it’s my passion for access and inclusion for all to access the beach. All of these are different facets of me and remaining connected to all of these different pathways really helps me to stay true to myself and when life does get difficult these are the people who I know I have in my corner because they get me for me.
You swam the 20km Rottnest channel swim last year solo, what was that like and have you set yourself any upcoming challenges for 2024?
The Rottnest channel swim or any large open water swim is essentially my equivalent of Christmas day. My favourite people, genuinely those who I swim with, doing my favourite thing, which is swimming, and in this case going to my favourite place, Rottnest Island.
It is the most uplifting, positive event and everyone comes there from a different walk of life. Whether it's from a competitive background, or they started swimming for rehabilitation from injury as an adult, or learnt to swim as an adult or as a team of four. It’s not the distance that matters, those community events are the most uplifting, the best side of humanity is when I go to those events.
I do want to do another solo, I didn’t do it this year because I went and saw Taylor Swift which was amazing. I did train with a group that was participating and I did thoroughly enjoy the training and it made me really want to do another one so my next goal is definitely to do another solo in 2025.
Your favourite beach in Australia and why?
That’s a really, really good question do I have to just pick one? Lake Argyle in The Kimberley is not a beach but it’s the most amazing body of water surrounded by the red dirt. I feel a complete sense of peace, relaxation and the atmosphere up there is amazing so that’s number one.
Number two is Gnaraloo because it’s the most pristine water, the clarity of it is phenomenal, the fish life, the waves, also red dirt (I should have been born in the red dirt really).
North Cottesloe because that’s where I spend a lot of my time through the surf life saving club and its somewhere I’ve met a whole new community of people. When I did retire from swimming that really helped me, it is my second home. And my final one is Middleton beach in Albany because that’s where my mother’s side of the family are from, that’s where I spent all of my childhood growing up. It has such special memories for me and it’s just a stunning beach.
It looks like you spend a lot of time in nature, what do you get up to?
I certainly do. I’ve been born and bred in Western Australia, it’s my favourite place, I don’t think there’s anywhere better in the world to be honest. During Covid I certainly made the most of the opportunity when we were able to. I visited every region of the nine regions of WA. I absolutely live for the ocean but the red dirt of the outback in the Kimberley and Pilbara has so much character, warmth and vibrancy to it. I feel that life is so much better when you’re out in nature, nothing beats it.
I adopted a rescue dog from Jigalong and particularly wanted a dog that’s from the desert because I thought that’s combining my love of the desert with my coastal lifestyle. I’ve got Tommy who’s from Jigalong in the Pilbara region, being from the desert he loves being out in nature too.
How does nature nourish you?
Nature makes me feel so alive. There is just so much to look, see, feel, touch, smell in nature that it just takes away all of the stresses that I face in everyday life. Being born with a disability has complications of its own, but in nature we are equal, we’re at one with nature. You can’t overrule nature that’s why we have to look after it so much because it’s not going to be there forever if we don’t look after it.
Your favourite thing about Australia?
The diversity of people, landscape. We are so lucky to be the world’s biggest island because that brings with it so many amazing qualities. We have a vast, amazing coastline, but when you get into literally the centre, it is red dirt. Even though I live in Cottesloe I’ve got red dirt in my place because I’ve been up to The Kimberley and that just says it all. We have the crystal white sandy beaches mixed with the red dirt, mixed with Uluru mixed with Kosciusko mixed with the Harbour Bridge. The fact that the population in Western Australia is so concentrated in Perth and the metropolitan area that when we go outback it is just so beautifully peaceful and sparse in terms of residents that it gives it diversity in terms of everything.