Noelle Malkamaki

American Paralympic athlete

46 ft 1+1⁄2 in) (2024, WR, PR, NR)
Medal record
Para-athletics
Representing the  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Shot put F46
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Paris Shot put F46
Gold medal – first place 2024 Kobe Shot put F46

Noelle Malkamaki (née DeJaynes; born January 9, 2001) is an American track and field athlete competing in shot put. She represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, winning a gold medal in shot put and setting a new world record.

Early life and education

Noelle DeJaynes was born in Decatur, Illinois, to Christopher and Sara DeJaynes.[1] She was born with a congenital birth defect, amniotic band syndrome, which prevented her right hand from developing.[2] She has one sister, Caley.[1]

DeJaynes graduated from St. Teresa High School in 2019, where she participated in volleyball and track and field. During her junior and senior year she helped St. Teresa finish in third place at the Illinois State 1A High School Championships.[3]

Following high school graduation she attended DePaul University, where she competed in track and field.[4][5] She graduated from DePaul in December 2023 with a degree in English literary studies.[6]

Career

DeJaynes’ first outdoor track and field season at DePaul University was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[6] After getting married in July 2020, she started competing as Noelle Malkamaki.[6]

At the 2022 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships, Malkamaki won her first national title and set an American record in the shot put with a throw of 12.18 m (39 ft 11+1⁄2 in).[7] In 2023, she won her second national title and set a new world record of 12.63 m (41 ft 5 in).[8]

With her nationals win, Malkamaki was named to the team to compete at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, where she made her international debut for the United States. During the 2023 World Para Championships she won a gold medal in the shot put F46 event with a world record throw of 13.32 m (43 ft 8+1⁄4 in).[9][10] She again represented the United States at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships and won a gold medal in the shot put F46 event with a throw of 13.12 m (43 ft 1⁄2 in).[11][12]

In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic Trials, she set a new world record throw of 13.60 m (44 ft 7+1⁄4 in), and qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[13][14][15] At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, she won a gold medal in the shot put F46 event with a world record throw of 14.06 m (46 ft 1+1⁄2 in).[16][17]

Malkamaki in 2024

Personal life

Malkamaki married her high school sweetheart Robert Malkamaki in July 2020.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Noelle Malkamaki". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Balthazor, Adeena (July 13, 2024). "Decatur native Noelle Malkamaki ready to represent USA at Paralympics". wandtv.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ^ ""Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for Noelle Malkamaki". depaulbluedemons.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Noelle Malkamaki". depaulbluedemons.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Moore, Lela (August 22, 2023). "Noelle Malkamaki Has Fully Embraced Being A Para Collegiate Athlete". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Shinn, Peggy (July 17, 2024). "Two-Time World Champion & NCAA D1 Shot Putter, Noelle Malkamaki Is A Paris Paralympic Games Favorite". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Flaten, Matthew (July 11, 2022). "St. Teresa graduate Noelle Malkamaki earns spot on 2022 Paralympics National Team, eyeing 2024 Paris games". Herald & Review. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "Noelle Malkamaki Breaks World Shot Put Record, Joins Team USA for World Championship". depaulbluedemons.com. May 23, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "Malkamaki Claims 2023 World Title for Team USA". depaulbluedemons.com. July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Beckett, Donnette (January 31, 2024). "Decatur Paralympics athlete shines on world stage". Herald & Review. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (May 22, 2024). "Malkamaki Defends World Title, Gives Team USA First Throws Medal of Kobe 2024". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Kounelias, Justin (May 10, 2024). "Para shot putter Noelle Malkamaki is always pushing". WKRG-TV. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 20, 2024). "Blackwell, Frech and Malkamaki Conclude Para Trials in World Record Fashion". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 21, 2024). "Fifty-four Athletes Nominated to U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Reichardt, Nora; Schlueter, Mikaela (July 31, 2024). "Illinois athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics". WQAD-TV. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  16. ^ Feurer, Todd (September 4, 2024). "DePaul shot put star Noelle Malkamaki wins Paralympic gold, sets world record". CBS News. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "St. Teresa grad Noelle Malkamaki wins Paralympic gold". Herald & Review. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  • Noelle Malkamaki at Team USA
  • "Against All Odds" Documentary