Katie Hill (basketball)
An Australian wheelchair basketball force who battled to Paralympic silver and bronze, earning over a hundred caps for her country.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Australian wheelchair basketball player·Birthday: February 17·Millennials
Biography
Katie Hill carved her path in sport as a formidable 3.0 point player on the Australian women's wheelchair basketball team, known as the Gliders. Her career is defined by resilience and peak performance on the world's biggest stage. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, she helped secure a bronze medal, a feat she and her team would surpass four years later in London, capturing the silver. Hill's dedication translated to remarkable longevity in the green and gold, amassing more than a hundred international appearances. Her tenure with the national side cemented her as a pillar of a program known for its competitive grit, contributing to Australia's sustained presence among the global elite in the sport.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Katie was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Katie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Katie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing with the Australian Gliders.
- Secured a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
- Accumulated over 100 international caps representing Australia in wheelchair basketball.
Did You Know?
Her Paralympic classification is 3.0 points, which indicates a specific level of physical function for competition.
She was part of the Australian team known as the Gliders.
Her international career spanned at least two Paralympic cycles.
“You train for years for a moment; you either make the shot or you don't.”
