"Teach kids they can before someone tells them they can't." - Bennett Blazers
I had to move fast as the youngest of three kids growing up in Mt. Airy, MD. Everyone played sports, so there was no question I would, too. You name it, I played it, just a little differently. Wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, triathlon, archery, swimming, and more, but my favorite sport was simple and fast: wheelchair racing. I currently live in Champaign, IL and train with the University of Illinois Wheelchair Racing program. I'm proud to represent the USA on the track and road, and even prouder to help new athletes learn to love the sport.
When did you decide to put down your braces and crutches?
At age 5, I ditched walking with braces and crutches - it was way too slow, and I had things to do. My wheelchair is freedom; I'm not bound to it or confined by it, and it's taken me around the world. To me, that's what sport is about - being free to push yourself past where you or others think you can go!
What is a hidden talent of yours?
I have a 3-D printer that I've been using to design and make mask straps for my sister, who's an ER nurse in New York City and science models for my mom, who teaches anatomy and physiology.
Daniel by the Numbers
Marathon Standout Daniel Romanchuk Joins the Clif Family
Twenty-one-year-old wheelchair racing phenom Daniel Romanchuk joins the Clif Bar athlete team.