Daniel Dias
Para swimmer Daniel Dias is Brazil’s most successful athlete in the last decade. In 2016 he was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Para swimmer Daniel Dias is Brazil’s most successful athlete in the last decade. In 2016 he was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Unstoppable
Daniel, who was born with deformities in his upper and lower limbs, learned to swim when he was 16 years old. Within just two months, he had mastered all four strokes. Two years later he entered his first international competition – the IPC Swimming World Championships in Durban, South Africa – where he won three gold and two silver medals.
Daniel comes from Campinas, north of São Paulo, and has celebrated more successes than any other Brazilian athlete in the last decade. Having garnered an incredible 27 medals at recent Paralympic Games (from Beijing 2008 through to Tokyo 2020), his achievements as a Paralympic athlete are potentially record-breaking. At the 2008 Beijing Games alone, he won nine medals – four of which were gold. This winning streak continued at the IPC World Championships in 2010 in Eindhoven, where he won eight gold medals and one silver medal.
In London 2012, he won six more titles, all in world record time. And he added four more gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. With three more bronze medals, he made it to the podium in Tokyo.
In 2019, he won his 30th Parapan American title at the Parapan American Games in Lima.
Daniel Dias, Para-Schwimmer und Ottobock Botschafter"Smile! A smile can change the day and another person’s life. So share the joy and create a better and happier environment around you."
As an ambassador, Daniel wants to share his story and success in order to motivate others and to show them that a disability is merely a characteristic and does not define a person.
"Each of us has the power to shine and be extremely successful. I truly hope that my successes encourage young people with a disability to start swimming."
A role model for the next generation
But Daniel hasn’t finished yet. Even before the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, he stepped forward as an ambassador for Brazil. Not only does he want the whole world to hear about the Paralympic Games, he also wants to inspire the next generation of Paralympic athletes.
“Inspiring people is a priceless privilege. Breaking down barriers, motivating people – including people with disabilities – and helping young athletes are all difficult tasks, but I find them immensely rewarding.”
In 2009, 2013 and 2016, Daniel was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for his impressive achievements in the pool and for his commitment to helping young people with disabilities.
Key facts
Nation: Brazil
Year of birth: 1988
Sport: Para swimming
Classification: S5, SB4 and SM5
Coach: Igor Russi
Club: Daniel Dias Institute
Victories and achievements
27 medals at the Paralympic Games including, 14 gold medals
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games:
Bronze medals in the 100 metres and 200 freestyle and in the 4 x 50 m freestyle relay
4th place in the 50 m freestyle
5th place in the 50 m backstroke
6th place in the 50 m butterfly
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games:
Gold medals in the 50, 100 and 200 m freestyle and 50 m backstroke
Silver medals in the 100 m breaststroke and in the 4 x 50 m and 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
Bronze medals in the 50 m butterfly and in the 4 x 100 m relay
London 2012 Paralympic Games:
Gold medals in the 50, 100 and 200 m freestyle, 50 m backstroke, 50 m butterfly and 100 m breaststroke
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games:
Gold medals in the 100 m and 200 m freestyle, 50 m backstroke and 200 m positions
40 medals at the Para Swimming World Championships, including 30 gold medals
3x winner of the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.