Dani Hansen Becomes the Most Decorated U.S. Paralympic Rower

This past weekend, at the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Final, Dani Hansen won her eleventh international medal in the PR3 mixed double sculls, when she and her partner, Gary Rought, won silver in the first inclusion of a Para boat in the event, making her the most decorated U.S. Paralympic rower of all time. 

Hansen made her first U.S. Para national team in 2014, and she won silver at the World Rowing Championships in the legs, trunk and arms mixed four with coxswain (now known as the PR3 mixed four with coxswain). Since this debut, Hansen has never failed to make the podium as a U.S. Para rower in international competition. 

“When I first tried out for the U.S. team in 2014, I had no idea what it would turn into,” said Hansen, “These teams have taken me to Amsterdam, Aiguebelette, Rio, Sarasota, Bulgaria, Austria, Tokyo, and now Italy I think, overall, doing things that push the boundaries and showcase my ability through adaptability is something I need to do for myself. I have no doubt that there are athletes who can beat me any day of the week, but I will always be excited to try something new to show people what’s possible.”

Her first Paralympics was in Rio 2016 where she raced in the legs, trunk and arms mixed four with coxswain, winning silver in the event. She was also a member of the University of Washington’s 2017 NCAA Championship winning team. Her success would only continue as she won her first gold at the 2018 World Championships in the PR3 pair, setting a world best time in the event. She pulled double duty that year, winning silver in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain.

Ellen Minzner, USRowing’s Director of Para High Performance who coached Hansen to a silver medal at the 2016 Paralympics said “Since Dani made her first world championship squad, she has had an immediate and lasting impact on not just the PR3 Mixed 4+, but the entire U.S. Para rowing program. A fierce competitor and a selfless teammate, she has elevated the game for everyone. Her career spanned both the 1k and 2k international Para distances, and now, with a medal in her first Beach Sprints Championship, Hansen is the most decorated, and perhaps the most versatile, U.S. Para rower since Para rowing was added to the Paralympic program in 2008.”

Hansen returned to the podium in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain in 2019, winning gold at World Cup II and silver at the World Championships that same year in the leadup to her second Paralympic medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. 

She said about her journey, “For me, being on teams with athletes of all abilities has been extremely inspiring. I always say I’m a teammate first and then an athlete.There is no medal or achievement that I’ve won alone and I wouldn’t have it any other way. PR3 being at Beach Sprints this year is a huge deal, and my hope is that more para athletes decide to give it a try, because it’s definitely for all of us.”