Meet Katie (“KayKay”) — the first deaf Doctor of Physical Therapy in the U.S. and a two-time Adaptive CrossFit Games World Champion (2024 & 2025). Her story is one of resilience, faith, and perseverance.

After losing much of her hearing as a child and being told she was exaggerating her condition, KayKay spent years navigating life through lip-reading, determination, and grit. At 26, she learned she had severe hearing loss, which later declined to just 5% by 2022. While completing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at South College Knoxville, she underwent bilateral cochlear implant surgery in 2023.

In 2024, she was crowned the Fittest Athlete in the World at the Adaptive CrossFit Games. Today, KayKay treats patients and trains at Magnify Health’s CrossFit St. Augustine location, with a passion for serving special needs and underserved communities.