Paralympics Silver Medalist Honored In Wauwatosa

WAUWATOSA, WI — A two-time Paralympics silver medalist and Wauwatosa native was honored with a mayoral proclamation on Tuesday at the Wauwatosa Common Council meeting.

Mayor Dennis McBride presented it to Hailey Danz, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games and a silver medal in a paratriathlon event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Danz's motto is "I believe there is no finish line," Mc Bride said.

Danz, 30, graduated from Wauwatosa East High School. When she was 12, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. Two years later, her leg was amputated. Afterward, Danz got involved with downhill skiing and then triathlons.

"She never allowed adversity to slow her down," McBride said at the meeting.

Danz's triathlon career took off in the years following her cancer treatment. By 2015, she was named the triathlon paratriathlete of the year, according to her Team USA biography.

Her other accolades include the following.

• Six-time International Triathlon Union Paratriathlon World Championships medalist (one gold, three silvers, two bronzes).
• Twelve-time ITU World Paratriathlon Event medalist (four golds, seven silvers, one bronze).
• Three-time Americas Triathlon Para Championships gold medalist (2018, 2019, 2021).
• Two-time USA Paratriathlon National Champion (2017, 2019).
• 2019 Tokyo ITU Paratriathlon World Cup gold medalist.

"I'm reminded of the great comedian Will Rogers, who once said, 'We can't all be heroes. Some of us have to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.' We are all sitting on the curb tonight for Hailey Danz," McBride said.

Danz, who attended the meeting, said she felt humbled by the acknowledgment from the place where she grew up and that helped her to be the person she is today. Danz added that she has been fortunate to achieve what she has on the athletic field and in her career.

"I'm proud of the person that I've become through the journey, and, you know, my upbringing in Wauwatosa really had a lot to do with that. So thank you so much," she said.