About

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 her 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.

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.

In 2024, she co-founded Culxtured, a media collective amplifying para sport in mainstream culture. Passionate about accessibility, she also earned a graduate certificate in Disability Inclusion & Accessible Design from the University of Michigan and continues to consult on creating more inclusive spaces.

Now based in Bozeman, Montana, Dani trains with the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Ski Team with her eyes on Milan 2026—while also carving out space in the trail running world, aiming to become one of the top short-distance runners in the U.S. 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.