Stefan Daniel is the most successful Para triathlete in Canadian history.
The planet’s top-ranked racer going into the Paralympic Games in Paris, he has dominated — and continues to dominate — the international scene.
Five times a world champion. A silver medallist at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. A bronze medallist at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
In 59 career starts on the world circuit, the Calgarian has climbed the podium 45 times, including 32 trips to the golden step.
The other day Daniel is asked to imagine his life without Para sport, without Para triathlon. The concept, perhaps understandably, gives him pause. “I don’t even know what I’d be doing,” says the soft-spoken 27-year-old. “My life would look very different, absolutely.
“It’s been a rewarding lifestyle, for sure.”
But beyond the well-inked passport and the overflowing trophy case, beyond the tape-breaking runs to glory and the precedent-setting pace, Daniel is capable of seeing the big picture.
How Para sport makes a difference to more than just the stars.
How it helps others to stay active, to learn to cope with adversity, to create a sense of accomplishment, to discover a feeling of belonging.
And remarkably, it’s Daniel, the Para triathlete kingpin, who finds a wellspring of inspiration everywhere he looks, from the everyday folks to the stars. All because of Para sport.
“People clearly aren’t afraid to get started in sport, no matter what their disability may be,” says Daniel. “That’s really important for people to see. Especially in Para triathlon, it’s such a wide range of disabilities — just seeing what people can overcome to be able to compete is quite impressive. I always appreciate seeing that stuff.
“And obviously, at something like the Paralympics, you can see all the different things people can do in all the different sports. It’s pretty cool.”
Joining Daniel in Paris are a couple of highly regarded racers from Canada.
Kamylle Frenette, of Dieppe, N.B., who finished just shy of the podium in Tokyo, is ranked fourth in the world heading into her second Paralympics.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Leanne Taylor, making her Paralympic debut in women’s wheelchair, is rated No. 3 in the world in her classification.
However, according to Daniel, it’s important to not lose sight of the fact that not everyone who chooses to devote time to swim-bike-run endeavours winds up in the high-performance stream.
More than world-class outcomes, Para triathlon provides a healthy lifestyle, a welcoming community — and more. “Everyone’s great. Everyone works really hard,” says Daniel. “Para sport, even if you’re not at the elite level, gives you a lot of confidence in other aspects of your life. It shows that you’re not scared to try new things, and it helps you in any other career path as well. Whether you’re at the elite level or not, just being in Para sport has so many rewards.”
Spreading the word is key — to let parents know that Para sport is growing, that it provides opportunities.
Which is where Lisa Mensink comes in. As Triathlon Canada’s Para triathlon pathway coach, she is working to make the sport more accessible and more inclusive.
How? Well, if a newcomer is eager to participate in a community-level race, she will encourage the race director to be open to adapting the course — to make sure the stages are safe, to ensure a good experience.
“So, for a wheelchair athlete, they know there are ramps and there are no obstacles or stairs in the way. They know the course is wide enough to accommodate handcycles,” says Mensink. “We try to remove barriers to the entry of the sport. Keep it manageable, keep it approachable.”
So far, reaction from event organizers has been encouraging.
For instance, if an athlete wants to get their feet wet and also have some in-race guidance, a buddy can be arranged to join them on the course.
When Mensink heard from a brand-new Para triathlete who was clearly nervous about an upcoming event, in particular handcycling on the bike course, she made a decision. Mensink would ride her own bike just behind the competitor. “I didn’t interfere with her race, but I made sure she was comfortable and had a blast while doing it.”
And that’s the key — turning that first experience into a positive one. Triathlon lifers know the sport’s appeal does the rest.
“Usually, once they race, they get the bug and it goes from there,” says Mensink, chuckling. “That’s just the nature of triathlon — with three different sports, you don’t always get it right the first time. There’s always something to work on. I find that the sport attracts athletes, para and non-para, who like that challenge.”
Unlike many others, Daniel was surrounded by high achievers growing up, so he required no introduction to the racing universe.
His parents had completed Ironman triathlons, while his older brother Christian, a superb swimmer, nearly qualified for the national team bound for the 2012 Paralympics in London.
At only nine years of age — and already a competitive swimmer — Stefan Daniel took on his first multisport event, the Apple Triathlon in Kelowna, B.C.
He enjoyed it, but he preferred to spend time at the pool.
That changed with 2013’s announcement that triathlon would be added to the 2016 Paralympic program. “That’s when I started to shift my focus,” he says. “Things happened really quickly then. I was able to make my first world championship that year. A bit of a whirlwind.”
To say the least. Because only two years later, he captured his first world title. From triathlon’s debut at the Paralympics, he earned silver, in the process becoming a poster boy for Para triathlon prowess.
As humble as the young man is, he has gained a position of influence. He appreciates the leverage — it’s something he’d like to use to boost the outlook of Para sport in this country.
“You don’t really think about that stuff (initially), but you try to set a good example,” says Daniel. “If I’m a role model for some kid — if somebody from Canada sees me — and it inspires them to get started in ara sport, that’s perfect. Inspiring the next generation, that’s what it’s all about.”