Katie grew up in New Jersey, where her dad taught her to swim in their backyard pool during the summer. Although he had no formal experience as a swim instructor, he taught her the basics and instilled a love of the water that she has carried with her ever since. She soon started on a local swim team at the Freehold YMCA, where she learned proper strokes and techniques. Her journey continued throughout high school and college, as Katie was recruited to swim at Wagner College in Staten Island. At Wagner, Katie was a distance/IM specialist and her favorite event was the 400 IM! She was a four-year team member and a team captain her senior year. In 2020, Katie graduated with a degree in Biopsychology. She moved to NYC to pursue her Master's in Occupational Therapy at New York University. Her hobbies include listening to podcasts, working out, and reading.