Danielle Aitchison

New Zealand Paralympic athlete

Danielle Aitchison

Personal information

Born|  (2001-08-16) 16 August 2001 (age 23)
Morrinsville, New Zealand
Sport
Country|  New Zealand
Sport| Para-athletics
Disability| Cerebral palsy
Disability class| T36
Club| Hamilton City Hawks Athletics

Medal record

Women's para-athletics
Representing  New Zealand
Paralympic Games
|  2020 Tokyo | 200m T36
| 2024 Paris | 100 m T36
| 2024 Paris | 200 m T36
|  2020 Tokyo  | 100m T36
World Championships
| 2023 Paris | 200m T36
| 2024 Kobe | 200m T36
| 2019 Dubai | 200m T36
| 2024 Kobe | 100m T36

Danielle Aitchison (born 16 August 2001) is a New Zealand para-athlete. She competes in the 100 metres and 200 metres in international events.[1][2][3] She won a gold medal with a new Oceania record in the women’s 200-metre T36 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, France in July 2023.[4][5]

## Personal life

[edit]

Aitchison was born in Morrinsville in 2001 and grew up in Patetonga in the Hauraki District.[1][6] She attended Kaihere School.[7] She was born with severe jaundice, cerebral palsy and 80-90% hearing loss. She has two uncommon types of cerebral palsy: athetoid and ataxia. She has cochlear implants in both ears.[6][7] While growing up Aitchison participated in ballet, netball and hockey.

## Career

[edit]

Aitchison began competing in para-athletics at age 16 in 2017, at the Halberg Junior Disability Games in Auckland, New Zealand.[6] She has competed in long jump and won a national title in the event.[7]

In 2019 she represented New Zealand internationally for the first time at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[6] She finished fourth in the 100m event and won silver in the 200m event with an Oceania record time (29.86sec).[7]

Competing at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in the women's 200 metres T36, Aitchison finished fastest in her heat. In the final, Aitchison won silver with a time of 29.88.[8][9] She also won bronze in the women's 100 metres T36.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Health challenges prove no barrier for Waikato teen Danielle Aitchison". Stuff. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018.
2. ^ "Danielle Aitchison - Athletics New Zealand". Athletics New Zealand. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019.
3. ^ "Teenage Dreams". Athletics New Zealand. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019.
4. ^ "Aitchison sprints to world para athletics gold". The New Zealand Herald. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
5. ^ Landells, Steve (15 July 2023). "Aitchison blitzes to epic 200m gold medal success". Athletics New Zealand. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
6. ^ a b c d "Danielle Aitchison - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
7. ^ a b c d "Tokyo Paralympics: After struggling to walk, NZ sprinter Danielle Aitchison goes for gold". Stuff. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
8. ^ "Tokyo Paralympics 2020: Kiwi sprinter Danielle Aitchison claims silver in T36 200m final". Retrieved 29 August 2021.
9. ^ "Sprinter Danielle Aitchison gunning for medal in Tokyo". TVNZ. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
10. ^ "Tokyo Paralympics: Danielle Aitchison wins second medal, bronze in women's 100m final". Stuff. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Danielle Aitchison at Athletics New Zealand
* Danielle Aitchison at Paralympics New Zealand
* Danielle Aitchison at the International Paralympic Committee

* v
* t
* e

2020 New Zealand Paralympic team

Athletics|

* Lisa Adams
* Danielle Aitchison
* Caitlin Dore
* Anna Grimaldi
* Holly Robinson
* William Stedman
* Anna Steven
* Ben Tuimaseve

Cycling|

* Stephen Hills
* Sarah Ellington
* Eltje Malzbender
* Rory Mead
* Nicole Murray
* Anna Taylor

Paracanoeing|

* Corbin Hart
* Scott Martlew

Shooting|

* Michael Johnson

Swimming|

* Nikita Howarth
* Tupou Neiufi
* Sophie Pascoe
* Jesse Reynolds

Wheelchair rugby|

* Hayden Barton-Cootes
* Cody Everson
* Robert Hewitt
* Barney Koneferenisi
* Tainafi Lefono
* Gareth Lynch
* Gavin Rolton
* Mike Todd

Chef de Mission: Paula Tesoriero

* v
* t
* e

2024 New Zealand Paralympic team

Athletics|

* Danielle Aitchison
* Anna Grimaldi
* Mitch Joynt
* Holly Robinson
* William Stedman
* Anna Steven

Bedminton|

* Wojtek Czyz

Cycling|

* Devon Briggs
* Rory Mead
* Nicole Murray
* Anna Taylor

Equestrian|

* Louise Duncan

Paracanoeing|

* Peter Cowan
* Scott Martlew

Shooting|

* Michael Johnson
* Neelam O'Neill
* Greg Reid

Swimming|

* Cameron Leslie
* Lili-Fox Mason
* Tupou Neiufi
* Jesse Reynolds
* Gabriella Smith
* Joshua Willmer

Table tennis|

* Matthew Britz

Chef de Mission: Raylene Bates
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