1. Nikita Stevie Howarth was born on 24 December 1998 and is a New Zealand para-cyclist and para-swimmer.
11 Facts About Nikita Howarth
1. 2.
Nikita Howarth became New Zealand's youngest ever Paralympian after being selected for the 2012 Summer Paralympics, aged 13 years 8 months.
3.
Nikita Howarth again represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, where she won the gold medal in the women's 200 metre individual medley SM7 and the bronze medal in the women's 50 metre butterfly S7.
4.
Nikita Howarth has a congenital bilateral arm deficiency, with no right hand and her left arm ending below the elbow.
5.
Nikita Howarth started swimming at age "three or four" and started swimming competitively at age seven.
6.
Nikita Howarth is classified S7 for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, SB8 for breaststroke, and SM7 for individual medley.
7.
Nikita Howarth was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
8.
Nikita Howarth was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
9.
Nikita Howarth was officially confirmed to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics on 5 May 2016.
10.
Nikita Howarth was a finalist for Disabled Sportsperson of the Year at the 2015 Halberg Awards.
11.
Nikita Howarth was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 New Year Honours, for her services to swimming.