Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison was rewarded for her golden year to be crowed ISPS Handa Para Athlete/Team of the Year at the 2026 Halberg Awards (16 February) at Spark Arena, Auckland.
The Para athletics star enjoyed an outstanding 2025, claiming dominant victories in both the Women’s 100m T36 and Women’s 200m T36 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, clinching victory in the latter event in a blistering world record time of 27.18.
Danielle featured as one of five finalists in the ISPS Handa Para Athlete of the Year/Team of the Year award, alongside Paralympian #164 Cameron Leslie MNZM (Para swimming and Wheelchair rugby) #210 Lisa Adams (Para athletics), #222 Nicole Murray (Para cycling) and #229 Devon Briggs (Para cycling). The five Para athletes all impressed last year by claiming a combined 13 medals at their respective World Para Championship events.
Danielle said of winning the Para Athlete/Team of the Year award: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet that I’ve won. There were so many other amazing Para athletes up for the award this year, to win it – is pretty surreal.
“It feels crazy to think that as a child I competed in mainstream athletics for Te Aroha Athletics Club running barefoot on the grass alongside my siblings. It is wild to think where I started to winning Para athlete of the year. I never thought it would be possible.”
The 24-year-old Para sprinter who originally hails from Patetonga in rural Waikato, had originally planned to take 2025 as a year away from the sport but found she had itchy feet so returned to training under the guidance of coach, Alan McDonald, and went on to secure double gold in New Delhi.
“Competing at the World Para Athletics Championships was definitely not on the cards last year, so to come away with two gold medals was incredible,” she adds.
Hamilton-based Danielle becomes the eighth Para athlete to receive the Para Athlete of the Year award at the Halberg Awards since the award’s inaugural presentation in 2011, and the third Para athletics recipient, joining Paralympian #195 Anna Grimaldi MNZM and #197 Liam Malone MNZM.
On a memorable night for Danielle, she added: “I would love to give a massive thank you to my mum. She has been my rock since day one, I love having her on the sideline in support. She has always pushed me to dream big and always encouraged me to do whatever I want and never let my disability hinder me.”
