Danielle “Dani” Aravich is a two-time Summer and Winter Paralympian and a nationally recognized disability access strategist.

As a disability rights activist and communications specialist, Dani uses her professional platform to elevate and equalize content coverage and public discourse around disabled athletes and para sports. She is the co-founder of Culxtured, a media company whose mission is to change the narrative around para athletes through creative storytelling and visibility.

Now based in Bozeman, Montana, Dani trains with the US Paralympic Nordic Ski Team—she’s competing in 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics—while also carving out space in the trail running world, aiming to become one of the top short-distance runners in the US. When she’s not training or racing, you can find her in the backcountry, on mountain trails, or simply soaking up life in the Mountain West.

Dani’s roots.

Dani Aravich was born and raised in Boise, Idaho—the only child of Rob and Kate, and born missing her left hand and forearm. Sports quickly became Dani’s outlet. From soccer to basketball, softball to ice skating, Dani played it all, competing alongside non-disabled peers and excelling every step of the way. In high school, a coach convinced her to try cross country. Begrudgingly, she laced up—and found a talent she couldn’t ignore. She gave up soccer and softball to pursue running, which led her to Division I Butler University in Indianapolis.

  • After a year competing in cross country and track, persistent knee injuries shifted her focus to academics and a budding dream career in professional sports.

    Internships with the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts landed her a full-time role with the Utah Jazz after graduation. But while she had broken into the sports world, something was missing. A family friend suggested she look into the Paralympics, reigniting her competitive drive.

    By 2019, Dani was balancing a 50-hour workweek with 15 hours of training, chasing a new dream in Paralympic track and field. She qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Trials, all while piecing together part-time jobs to keep the dream alive. That same year, she was introduced to the world of Nordic skiing and biathlon—and was instantly hooked. Within weeks of learning to ski, she was racing at Nationals.

    Then the pandemic hit. With track competitions canceled, Dani threw herself into skiing, joining a local biathlon club and training with the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Team. Her gamble paid off. In 2021, she competed in the Tokyo Paralympics in the 400m T47. Six months later, she made history as one of the few athletes to compete in both the Summer and Winter Games, finishing top-ten in biathlon and Nordic skiing at Beijing 2022. In 2023, she and her teammates won gold in the mixed relay at the World Para Nordic Championships. She earned her spot on the Para Nordic National team in 2022 and has been racing internationally since.

Paralympics
and beyond:

Track and field. Nordic skiing. Biathlon. Trail running. Backcountry skiing. Running a business.

Learn more about what Dani does.

  • Dani is a former Division I cross country and track & field athlete, specializing in the 3,000m and 5,000m. She later transitioned to sprinting, qualifying for and competing in the 400m at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

  • In 2019, Dani was invited to a U.S. Paralympic Nordic Ski developmental camp. Just two weeks after first stepping on skis, she won both of her races at Nationals. She’s now a U.S. National Team member, a 2023 World Champion in the mixed relay, and a 2022 Beijing Paralympian

  • Dani first picked up an air rifle in December 2019. Since then, she’s competed at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games and earned her first international podium at the 2025 IBU Para Biathlon World Cup in Torsby, winning bronze in the women’s standing sprint pursuit.

  • After the Beijing Paralympics, Dani turned to trail running, consistently finishing in the top ten across the Mountain West. Beyond racing, she’s using her platform to make the sport more inclusive—advising UTMB and the Golden Trail Series on accessibility and helping races create opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

  • A lifelong downhill skier, Dani took her passion into the backcountry. In April 2023, she partnered with the Inclusive Outdoors Project to host the first-ever Adaptive Avalanche Clinic, where eight athletes with disabilities earned their Level 1 Recreation avalanche certification.

Outside of training, Dani has built a career in sports media and athlete advocacy. She’s worked across marketing, casting, and social media—collaborating with brands like Kodiak Cakes and Parity, and serving as a social media coordinator for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. She’s hosted coverage of the World Para Athletics Championships and worked on the ground at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. See more on her work page here.