Born Without Her Right Hand, Little Noelle Grew Up to Become a World-Record-Breaking Athlete

When Noelle Malkamaki entered the world, she was missing her right hand.

She had been born with amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition that can interfere with the development of a baby’s limbs before birth.

Her childhood would involve prosthetic fittings, adapting to everyday activities and discovering which sports she loved.

Years later, the little girl who grew up with a visible limb difference would become one of the world’s leading Paralympic shot put athletes.

A Childhood With a Different Right Arm

Noelle grew up in Decatur, Illinois, and began receiving specialized care at Shriners Children’s St. Louis before she entered kindergarten.

The hospital’s pediatric orthotic and prosthetic team helped her explore prosthetic devices suited to her changing needs.

As she grew, different activities required different approaches.

Rather than limiting herself to a single sport, Noelle experimented with numerous athletic activities throughout childhood.

Finding Confidence at Shriners Children’s

For Noelle, her hospital visits meant more than receiving prosthetic care.

She found an environment where her limb difference was understood and where medical professionals focused on helping her pursue the things she wanted to try.

The experience gave her confidence to participate in sports without assuming that her missing hand would automatically prevent her from succeeding.

She tried activities including volleyball and ice hockey, using prosthetic equipment when it helped her participate.

From Childhood Sports to College Athletics

Noelle’s passion for athletics continued into high school and college.

She joined DePaul University as a Division I athlete, competing in track and field alongside athletes without limb differences.

She later began competing in para athletics, where she discovered an exceptional talent for shot put.

Her success came quickly, but the transition also required mental adjustment.

She had to learn how to approach competitions in which she was suddenly considered one of the strongest athletes rather than simply another member of a college team.

Breaking a World Record

By August 2024, Noelle had established herself as a world champion.

At the United States Paralympic Trials, she broke her own world record in shot put.

Her performance made her a leading gold-medal contender heading into the Paris Paralympic Games.

For the former Shriners Children’s patient, the achievement represented years of training, determination and learning how to compete at the highest level.

A Message for Children With Limb Differences

Noelle continued encouraging young athletes with disabilities to explore different opportunities, including competing in both conventional collegiate athletics and para sports when appropriate.

She credited her childhood care team with helping her develop the confidence to experiment, adapt and discover her abilities.

Her story began with a newborn missing her right hand. It became the story of an athlete who refused to let other people’s expectations define which sports she could try.

Source: Shriners Children’s St. Louis, August 12, 2024 — Noelle Malkamaki Heads to Paralympics as Favorite for Gold Medal.