DENVER — Hailey Danz has overcome unbelievable odds to grow to be a Paralympic gold medalist. The 34-year-old Denver resident was identified with bone most cancers at age 12 and underwent a serious surgical procedure that left her leg severely impaired.
“Actually, one of many hardest components was having to surrender sports activities,” Danz defined. “I made the choice once I was 14 to have my leg amputated above the knee, and I actually simply did that in order that I may sort of get my life again.”
Within the early 2000s, adaptive sports activities have been nonetheless gaining recognition, so Danz continued to play able-body sports activities like snowboarding and tennis.
“It was irritating as a result of I in contrast myself to what I used to be like once I had two legs, and in contrast myself to my friends that I might need been quicker than previous to the amputation. It was laborious not having the ability to sustain in the way in which that I used to,” Danz mentioned. “However that made it in order that once I did discover the world of adaptive sports activities and was surrounded by individuals who had related challenges, it felt just like the taking part in discipline was leveled.”
In faculty, Danz found the triathlon — a swim, bike, and run competitors in that order.
As the game of triathlon made its Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro 2016, Danz was among the many early athletes within the competitors. Though she got here near profitable gold in each Rio and Tokyo 2020, Danz’s perseverance led her to a gold medal in Paris 2024.
Denver7 Sports activities
About half of Colorado’s Paralympians will return house with a medal
“It nearly nonetheless hasn’t sunk in,” she mentioned. “When there’s one thing that you really want so desperately and have labored so a few years for, and it comes true, it is surreal.”
Her journey is a testomony to her resilience, dedication, and laborious work, inspiring many.
Thibault Camus/AP
Sportswomen of Colorado at the moment are recognizing Danz for her outstanding achievements and are excited to proceed pushing ahead with potential future targets in Los Angeles 2028.
Watch our full interview with Hailey Danz within the video under.
Full interview with Colorado Paralympic gold medalist Hailey Danz
