Deja Young

Deja Young (born June 10, 1996) is an American Paralympic athlete from Dallas, Texas. She participates in the T46 sprinting events.

Deja Young
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1996-06-10) June 10, 1996
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Sport
Country United States
SportParalympic athletics
DisabilityBrachial plexus
Disability classT46
ClubWichita State University
Medal record
Women's paralympic athletics
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de Janeiro100m T46
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de Janeiro200m T46
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tokyo100m T47
IPC/World Para Championships
Gold medal – first place2015 Doha100m T47
Silver medal – second place2015 Doha200m T47
Gold medal – first place2017 London100m T47
Gold medal – first place2017 London200m T47
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place2019 Lima100m T47
Gold medal – first place2019 Lima200m T47

Biography

Deja Young is the youngest daughter of Don and Delora Young, and she has an older sister named Dyani. She was born with brachial plexus, or shoulder dystocia, which has caused nerve damage and limited mobility in her right shoulder.[1] This was caused during childbirth by a panicked doctor who pulled on her head too hard, causing her right shoulder to dislocate. She had to undergo three surgeries to reduce her discomfort.[2]

Sporting career

Young was a standout volleyball and softball player in high school. However, her disability hindered her performance, and she decided to do track and field athletics. When she took part in track events as a freshman, she discovered speed, and has been interested from then on. Young has been an athlete in two Missouri Valley Conference championship teams in 60m and 100m events, and was also a relay team participant in Wichita State's 400m relay as a freshman and junior.[3]

Young participated in her first international athletics event in 2015 in Doha, Qatar. She won her first gold medal in the 100 meters by five-tenths of a second, defeating silver medalist Wang Yanping and bronze medalist Alicja Fiodorow.[4] In the 200m final, Young won a silver medal after being beaten by Cuban athlete Yunidis Castillo by half a second.[5]

References
  1. "Deja Young Profile". Team USA. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
  2. "Shoulder deformity motivates WSU Paralympian Deja Young". Kansas.com. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
  3. "Shoulder deformity motivates WSU Paralympian Deja Young". Kansas.com. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
  4. "Event Overview - Women's 100m T47". World Para Athletics. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
  5. "Event Overview - Women's 200m T47". World Para Athletics. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
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