Noelle Malkamaki

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. She was born with a congenital birth defect, amniotic band syndrome, which prevented her right hand from developing. She has one sister, Caley.

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

Career DeJaynes’ first outdoor track and field season at DePaul University was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2023, she won her second national title and set a new world record of .

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 . 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 .

In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic Trials, she set a new world record throw of , and qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, she won a gold medal in the shot put F46 event with a world record throw of .

Personal life Malkamaki married her high school sweetheart Robert Malkamaki in July 2020.