Caitlin has had a love for athletics since she was 11 years of age. Originally from Christchurch, Caitlin made the move to Dunedin in 2015 to train with head coach Raylene Bates and to study Physical Education at the University of Otago. She has always been a discus and shot putter at the time of moving to Dunedin but quickly changed to the discipline of javelin when training under coach Raylene Bates. In fact, javelin turned into her favourite event. Caitlin loves athletics, and more specifically the challenges and excitement it brings her.
In 2015 Caitlin was thrilled to compete in her first major international competition in Doha at the IPC Athletics World Championships. She describes this as an amazing experience where she loved the thrill of competing against other countries.
Caitlin made her Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and was part of the New Zealand Paralympic Team who won a stunning 21 medals across 12 individual medallists in 2016 (9 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze). The Team finished first in the world per capita and 13th in the world overall (previous best: 16th). Caitlin placed 7th in the Women’s Javelin F37.
Following the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Caitlin had to reassess her athletics future after javelin F37 was taken off the list of guaranteed events for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
A shift to shot put F37 produced encouraging results, with Caitlin breaking the New Zealand F37 shot put record in February 2018, just eight months after making the change. Caitlin represented New Zealand in her new discipline at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Dubai, placing 7th in the Women’s Shot put F37 final.
Caitlin placed 8th in the Women’s Shot put – F37 Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, with a throw of 9.03m
She now trains in Christchurch, alongside Dame Valerie Adams and Tom Walsh.
Caitlin officially received her ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin as part of The Celebration Project in Dunedin in February 2021.
Caitlin was named a Harvey Norman Para Sport Champion in 2024.
