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
2016 Rio de Janeiro100m T46
2016 Rio de Janeiro200m T46
IPC/World Para Championships
2015 Doha100m T47
2015 Doha200m T47
2017 London100m T47
2017 London200m T47

Biography

Deja Young is the youngest daughter of Don and Delora Young and she has an older sister 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 and her right shoulder to dislocate, she had to undergo three surgeries to reduce her discomfort.[2]

Sporting career

Young was once a standout volleyball and softball player in high school however her disability hinders her performance and decided to do track and field athletics. When she took part in doing 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 the 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 100 metres by five tenths of a second for beating Wang Yanping to gain a silver and Alicja Fiodorow to earn a bronze.[4] In the 200 metre final, Young won a silver 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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