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| Born | (2001-08-16)16 August 2001 (age 24) Morrinsville, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para-athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability | Cerebral palsy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | T36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Hamilton City Hawks Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Danielle Aitchison (born 16 August 2001) is a New Zealand para-athlete. She competes in the100 metres and200 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 the2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, France in July 2023.[4][5]
Aitchison was born inMorrinsville in 2001 and grew up in Patetonga in theHauraki District.[1][6] She attended Kaihere School.[7] She was born with severejaundice,cerebral palsy and 80-90% hearing loss. She has two uncommon types of cerebral palsy:athetoid andataxia. She hascochlear implants in both ears.[6][7] While growing up Aitchison participated in ballet, netball and hockey.
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 the2019 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 the2020 Summer Paralympics in thewomen'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 thewomen's 100 metres T36.[10]
