Despite a last-minute 24-hour delay, eight Dare2tri athletes displayed remarkable resilience and determination on Monday at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, contributing to Team USA’s historic performance in paratriathlon. The team brought home three medals, helping the U.S. top the medal count for all countries with eight total medals in the sport.
Hailey Danz, a two-time Paralympic silver medalist, captured her first Paralympic gold in the women’s PTS2 race, delivering a standout performance that solidified her status as one of the world’s elite paratriathletes. Melissa Stockwell, Dare2tri Co-Founder and a U.S. Army Veteran, finished close behind in fifth place.
In the women’s PTS4 race, Grace Norman added another gold to her illustrious career, marking her second Paralympic paratriathlon gold and fourth overall Paralympic medal.
Kendall Gretsch earned silver in the women’s PTWC race, adding to her impressive tally of seven Paralympic medals. Emelia Perry, a member of the Dare2tri Elite Team who trains alongside Gretsch with the U.S. Paratriathlon Resident Team in Colorado Springs, finished fifth in her Paralympic debut.
Making his first appearance at the Paralympic Games, 21-year-old Owen Cravens placed fourth in the men’s PTVI paratriathlon race. Cravens’ journey began at Dare2tri’s Kids Tri Camp in 2016, where he quickly fell in love with the sport. He progressed through Dare2tri’s Jr. Development Team and eventually joined the Elite Team, culminating in his impressive debut on the world stage.
Longtime Dare2tri Elite Team member Howie Sanborn finished ninth in the men’s PTWC paratriathlon race. Despite a mechanical issue with his racing chair that caused him to crash, Sanborn displayed extraordinary perseverance, completing the race in his first Paralympic appearance.
In the women’s PTS4 race, Rachel Watts finished 13th, rounding out the exceptional Paratriathlon performances from Dare2tri athletes at the Games.
Dare2tri athletes also made a splash in the pool at the 2024 Paralympics. Jack O’Neil made his Paralympic debut in the men’s 100-meter backstroke S8, finishing with a time of 1:11.09, which placed him eleventh overall. Ahalya Lettenberger, who earned a silver medal during the Tokyo 2020 Games, placed sixth in the 100-meter breaststroke SB6 and finished fifth in the women’s 400-meter freestyle S7.
The achievements of these athletes will be celebrated at Dare2tri’s signature fundraising event, Victory Lap, on October 10th at the historic Old Chicago Post Office. This event will honor their incredible accomplishments and support the next generation of paratriathletes. Tickets are on sale now.
