Quick Facts

Specialty: Standing cross-country skiing/biathlon, 400m
Nicknamed “Biathlon Bandit”
Parents, Rob and Kate
Hobbies include horseback riding, hiking, fashion and enjoying life in the Mountain West

Co-founder of Culxtured (pronounced “cultured”), a social media company focused on covering para athletes

Biographical Information

Danielle "Dani" Aravich was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, without her left hand and forearm. Aravich competed in many sports growing up, like soccer, softball, and track, before heading to Indianapolis to attend Butler University as a member of the cross-country and track team. After her freshman year, dealing with persistent knee injuries, she shifted her attention to academics.

After graduating with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Aravich went to work in professional sports, starting with the Utah Jazz, when, in late 2018, she was told about the Paralympics from a family friend. Through her training in track and field, she was asked to attend a development camp for US Para Nordic Skiing in late 2019.

Aravich made her Paralympic debut at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 in the women’s T47 400m. Just over six months later, she would represent Team USA at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in biathlon and cross-country skiing.

Aravich is nicknamed “Biathlon Bandit,” a nickname bestowed upon her by her biathlon coach. The name encompasses her newfound love of biathlon but also incorporates her Western U.S. roots. Aravich wears cowboy boots to every race and has a Team USA cowboy hat made for the Winter Paralympics. Dani was a part of the bid process and helped in getting the Olympics and Paralympics back to Salt Lake City for 2034.

Paralympic Experience

2-time Paralympian
- Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, 8th (1km Sprint Freestyle - Standing - Women), 9th (10km Freestyle - Standing - Women), 11th (10km Middle - Standing - Women), 13th (6km Individual - Standing - Women)
- Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 10th (400m T47 - Women)

World Championship Experience:

Most recent: 2025 – (20km Freestyle - Standing - Women), 6th (1km Sprint Classic Style - Standing - Women, Sprint Pursuit - Standing - Women), 7th (12.5km Individual - Standing - Women, 7.5km Sprint - Standing - Women), 15th (10km Classic Style - Standing - Women)
Years of participation: 10km Classic Style - Standing - Women 2022, 2025; 12.5km Individual - Standing - Women 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025; 1km Sprint Classic Style - Standing - Women 2022, 2025; 20km Freestyle - Standing - Women 2025; 7.5km Sprint - Standing - Women 2023, 2024, 2025; Sprint Pursuit - Standing - Women 2025; 3.6km Pursuit - Standing - Women 2024; 4.8km Team Sprint - Standing/Visually Impaired 2024; 1km Sprint Freestyle - Standing - Women 2023; 4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed 2022, 2023; 10km Middle - Standing - Women 2022; 6km Individual - Standing - Women 2022
Medals: 1 (1 gold)
- Gold – 2023 (4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed)

Education

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