The legacy Danielle Aitchison hopes to leave behind one day is that despite her disability, “I can work hard and do anything I put my mind to”.
The New Zealand para-athlete from Patetonga lives with two uncommon types of cerebral palsy – Ataxia and Athetoid, and has cochlear implants due to deafness in both ears.
But her journey with cerebral palsy has not been an obstacle but a stepping stone to her aspirations.
The 23-year-old athlete competed at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris last month, claiming silver medals in the Women’s 200m T36 and the Women’s 100m T36 disciplines.
The former Hauraki Plains College student told The Profile she had mixed feelings during those moments.
“I was a bit disappointed in myself as I knew I had a real chance to get the gold medal,” she said.
Danielle worked really hard and “to be so close” was difficult, she said.
“At the same time, two silver medals is a huge accomplishment.”
Danielle, who now resides in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, said she was really proud to have something that reflected all her hard work, dedication and sacrifice over the past three years.
In the 200m race, Danielle dashed across the finish line at 27.64 seconds, just behind gold medalist Shi Yiting, who crossed the line at 27.50 seconds.
“I gave it my all, but [I] was so tired.”
It was the second time Danielle had run the distance in 27 seconds, she said.
“Knowing that it is not a fluke and I can do it just makes me so happy.”
In her 100m race, Danielle flew over the finish line with a time of 13.43 seconds, behind Shi at 13.39 seconds.
“It was also a lot of fun to challenge myself and have a good race with Shi.”
When Danielle gets ready to “power out” of the blocks, “nothing goes through my mind”, she said.
“I am so focused on me and just running.”
After her race, Danielle’s first thought was to find her family so she could hug them, she said. Her partner created ‘Team Dani’ shirts “so it made it a lot easier to find them in the crowd”.
It was a “cool experience” to let her family “see a bit of my world and what I do”, Danielle said. “And also expose them to so many disabilities.”
Danielle’s second course of action was about “living in the moment” with her podium competitors, and being proud to represent their countries, Danielle said.
Her silver medals resembled a “bit of hope” to know she can work even harder and “get that gold medal” in the future.
But it was clear that the path to the podium was a shared one.
“My biggest support has been my mum.
“She continues to support me in all my decisions and all my successes and failures within my career.”
Danielle said that despite what is happening in her mum’s life – “she always flies around the world to be there at my international competitions”.
Her mum contributed to Danielle’s success with “unwavering support” and “the mindset she instilled in me”, she said.
Athletics was a part of Danielle’s upbringing in a sporty family.
But in high school, she found it difficult to play mainstream sports due to her disabilities “so I decided to stop”, she said.
Danielle was reunited with athletics when she went to the 2017 Halberg Disability Games, she said.
“I have been doing it ever since and love it. I feel like I found a place where I feel normal.”
Danielle’s advice for young athletes with disabilities who aspired to compete at the Paralympics was to enjoy the journey.
It can be a hard and long road to get there, Danielle said. “Sometimes the Paralympics isn’t everything you hoped it to be or you don’t achieve your goals.”
But Danielle said to enjoy the journey of training and pushing yourself and to relish travelling for sports and seeing the world.
“Being an athlete can be tiring but also very rewarding.”
Her reason for being in the Paralympics was to “just be the best I can be, and have fun”, she said. “It is also a chance to showcase to the world what people with disabilities can achieve. We are not a minority.”
Danielle said life was all about having fun and enjoying the moments.
“I love to run fast and that brings me joy.
“The fact I can do it for a job is even cooler.”
DETAILS: To keep up with Danielle’s journey, follow her on Facebook: Dani Aitchison – Paralympian.
