Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison enjoyed a stellar year in 2025 striking double gold in the Women’s 100m and 200m T36 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. Here the 24-year-old four-time Paralympic Games medallist looks back at the pivotal role Herries Park in Te Aroha played in her development.
The passage of time may have dulled the memory slightly, but there is little doubting the Para athletics journey of Danielle Aitchison began on the quintessentially Kiwi grass track at Herries Park – home to Te Aroha Athletics Club.
Aged somewhere between nine and 12 — time has blurred the specifics — Danielle began attending Tuesday night athletics at the track with her younger siblings, where she first tasted the sport.
“I don’t know who initiated why we all came to athletics but the unspoken rule in the family is that we had to do a sport every term but because there are so many siblings (Danielle is one of five siblings) we all have to do the same sport,” explains Danielle.
“Herries Park brings back a lot of memories, especially with my younger sister Shontelle, we used to come here as a family. It was fun to participate in all the events and hang out with other kids.”
Danielle recalls eating afternoon tea after school and her mum making the 30-minute drive across the Waikato countryside from their Patetonga home to Te Aroha. The coaches at the club would encourage participation in all events and Danielle recalls trying everything – including the shot put and discus – but from the outset, she “swayed towards the short sprints.”
“I loved that feeling of running fast and running free,” she adds. “I also liked the fact you could run barefoot, and you require no extra equipment to run. Looking back, I enjoyed the experiences I had with my family here. It was fun at club night watching my younger siblings participate and cheering on my younger brother in the toddler’s race. To hang out the family was all about enjoyment and love and today that same philosophy rings true in that it is still important that I enjoy my athletics.”
With no knowledge back then of Para athletics, Danielle did struggle with the fact she often finished towards the back of the field and for a period this hindered her passion for the Para sport.
It was only when racing at the 2017 Halberg Games did she first discover Para athletics, which was to set her on the road to international glory. Aged 16 she found a coach in Alan McDonald and Danielle made rapid progress, and in 2019 she made her international debut at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.
“That was the first moment I thought I’m good at this, I can dream high.”
Yet there is no ignoring that the genesis of her future success can be traced back to Herries Park.
“If I hadn’t participated in athletics here when I was younger, I don’t think I would be participating today in Para athletics,” she explains. “I found my love for running here at club nights. If I hadn’t had that experience, I would have been more open to maybe exploring other Para sports instead.”
***Danielle Aitchison is one of five finalists for the Para Athletes/Team of the Year prize at the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards on Monday 16 February.
