Nowitzki attended Ferny Grove High School.
At the age of 13 months she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She was diagnosed with Dopa-responsive dystonia when she was 25 years old. At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, she finished fifth in the Women"s 100 m Breaststroke SB7.
At the 2000 Paralympics she was coached by Brendan Keogh.
In 2000, she was awarded the and in 2013 she was recognised at the Dickson Citizen of the Year. In 2012 Nowitzki released her autobiography "Number Ordinary Girl" to reduce the stigma of dopa-responsive dystonia and mental illness.
