Words by Like the Wind – Photography supplied by New Balance
Catherine Debrunner has a smile that lights up the room, an outward expression of positivity and enthusiasm that is the hallmark of her personality. Here we have one of the most successful athletes in the world – with eight Paralympic and eight World Para Athletics Championship medals to her name – who seems to love putting others at ease by being so engaging and fun.
Of course, the smile is not the only thing that people notice when they meet Catherine. Her wheelchair is hard to ignore. Catherine was born with a congenital spine condition, so she has needed to use a wheelchair her whole life. Despite that, Catherine has carved out an athletics career and a life that makes her – and seemingly everyone around her – smile.
Catherine was born in April 1995 in Mettendorf, a small town in the north-eastern corner of Switzerland. Growing up, her family encouraged her to be as active as possible, enjoying the Swiss outdoors surrounding the family home. But it was thanks to a trip to the Swiss Paraplegic Association’s open day – where youngsters could try a range of para sports – that Catherine’s trajectory to the top began, in her chosen sport of wheelchair racing on the track and roads.
Once Catherine had found her calling, as far as sport was concerned, there was no holding her back. Catherine is just 29 years old, but she has already amassed eight medals – six gold, one silver and one bronze – at two different Paralympic Games, plus five gold and three silver medals at World Para Athletics Championships. She has also won the 2024 editions of the London, Berlin and Chicago marathons – but her full list of achievements is too long for this story. Needless to say, Catherine is a phenomenon.
We had the chance to spend time with Catherine in Berlin, a couple of days before she lined up to test herself against the best wheelchair racers in the world. Then, two days later, on a cool, slightly overcast Sunday morning, we watched Catherine locked in a tight battle with American athlete Susannah Scaroni all the way to 30km. At which point Catherine pulled away to a comfortable victory, crossing the finish line and immediately allowing her bright smile to return. Job done.
MEETING A PHENOMENON
Like the Wind: How did your family support you in being so active as a young person, when you were in a wheelchair from the beginning?
Catherine Debrunner: I need to compliment to my parents, because they managed the challenge of me being in a wheelchair so well. They never gave me the feeling that I was handicapped. They just did everything with me like they did with my sister. We had a really good childhood. And we were outside almost all the time. We were born in a small village and when we left the house all we saw was nature.
LtW: The story of how you discovered racing wheelchairs is really interesting – and the fact that you were very young when you started your career as an athlete. Could you tell us a bit more about that?
CD: I was eight years old and I went to a kids’ camp in Nottwil at the Swiss Paraplegic Center. There I could try there a lot of different sports. I had told my parents that I wanted to do a sport, but I didn’t know which one. So they sent me to the camp – because they always supported me in my goals and dreams – and actually it was love at first sight with the racing chair.
LtW: Now you are 29 years old and both a Paralympic and World champion. What have been the biggest developments in terms of the wheelchairs that you use? And how have they helped your sporting ambitions?
CD: The main change has been in the materials. We went from aluminium to carbon wheelchairs and the one I have from Honda is completely tailor-made for my body. To build that, the Honda team scanned me from head to toe so it is perfectly fitted. And I really feel that, especially in the marathon. The other big change is the gloves. When I started wheelchair racing, we had soft gloves. Now most of the athletes have hard gloves.
LtW: Why do you think wheelchair racing was the sport that captured your heart?
CD: It is because I like speed in general. When I was a kid, having a wheelchair was like my friends having a bicycle. I could go out into nature with my dad: he took his bike and I had a vehicle with which I could move fast. So in the beginning, it was all about having fun and being able to move. And I think that’s really important for a child. Then later on, when you are a little older, you can decide if you want to be more competitive or just stick to having fun.
LtW: Were there specific moments when you realised you could have a career as an athlete?
CD: Yes, actually. In 2008 in New York at the Parathletics Junior World Games. I knew I was talented, but no one expected me to win five gold medals there. That was the moment I thought, “OK, I’m pretty talented. Let’s go further and try to be successful at an elite level.”
The second time was at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. It was my first Paralympics. Everybody always said, “Oh, the Paralympics is so big and so different.” But I couldn’t imagine what would be different from the World Championships, because it’s the same athletes. But when I got there I understood: it’s much bigger. There is much more media coverage.
And I was disappointed with my performances, so I talked to my [former] coach and asked him, “What do I have to do to close the gap to the other athletes?” And I decided then to do everything I could to close the gap to the top athletes.
LtW: How do you think about the idea behind Run your way as it relates to everybody – from an elite level to an amateur level – being encouraged to be active?
CD: I think that nowadays we live in a society which prioritises performance. And I think social media plays a big role in that. We tend to only show the perfect side of life. And that can give us the feeling that we are not good enough. I really like the idea that New Balance has to include everyone. It doesn’t matter how you move, just that you move. That you stay true and honest with yourself.
As a para athlete, you get confronted with the question, “Am I good enough?” I mean, our handicap is obvious. People can see that I’m in a wheelchair and some believe that it is a big issue. But at the end of the day, the only difference is that I sit. That’s it.
For a very long time, my dream was to be ambassador for a clothing brand. It was a very, very long journey. It took many years and I almost gave up. Because the issue was that I can’t stand. For many brands, anyone representing their clothing needs to be able to walk. I talked with many companies and some of them were really honest with me about that. And then, completely by coincidence, I met the New Balance team. Within half a day they said, “You’re in.” From the first moment I felt really welcome. That’s genuine, isn’t it?
LtW: What do your parents think of you now?
CD: I think they knew from early on that if I have an idea in my head, I’ll do everything to make it happen. And so I think they are really proud. Because it was not easy when I was born, the first years were really difficult. I think they are just so happy to see how my life actually turned out.
LtW: You are a Paralympian. You’re at the pinnacle of your sport. But what do you do to relax?
CD: I try to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. And at the same time, the older I get, the more I realise how much I need time for just myself. I like to learn languages, I’m learning Dutch right now. And I started to draw a little. It helps me to relax. Plus I like to listen to podcasts on all sort of subjects, because I think it’s important to not be in the sport bubble 24/7.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
