Danielle is an incredible young lady whose warmth, determination and kindness shine through everything she does. She has Down’s Syndrome, but her condition has never stopped her from achieving great things.
Always smiling, always encouraging others, Danielle celebrates everyone’s successes and is a huge supporter of her friends and fellow Special Olympics athletes. Her love of sport and movement is infectious, and she is an inspiration to young people and adults alike.
A love of football from a young age
Danielle has been playing football since she was just six years old. She plays for Lincoln’s local DS Active team which provides players with Down’s Syndrome with an engaging and fun environment in which they can develop on their football journey. The sessions welcome players aged 16+ on a weekly basis, and provide opportunities to represent Lincoln City in fixtures. The team participate in occasional tournaments and fixtures alongside the weekly training programme, and Danielle has enjoyed success at tournaments in Bradford, Doncaster and the National Down’s Syndrome Championships, bringing home trophies and unforgettable memories along the way.
Danielle is also a passionate Wigan Athletic supporter and loves everything about the game – from playing to cheering her team on from the stands.
Discovering badminton and special Olympics
In 2017, Danielle took up badminton and quickly discovered a new passion. She now competes for Special Olympics Lincolnshire and has won medals across a wide range of competitions, including the 4 Nations Disability Tournament and the Special Olympics Great Britain Series Summer of Sport.
Her commitment goes beyond competition too. Danielle completed a six-week Athlete Leader course with Special Olympics Great Britain, helping her build confidence, leadership skills, and a voice to support others.
In June 2026 she will be taking part in the Special Olympics National Badminton tournament and she is also hoping to take part in the Special Olympics National football tournament in August.
Setting Challenges and Going the Distance
Every year, Danielle sets herself new fitness challenges. She decides what she wants to do, explains why it matters to her – and then ropes in her dad, Steve, to join her. Together, they’ve completed 10Ks, half marathons and even a full marathon.
In 2023, Danielle came up with the idea of joining the Joseph’s Goal walk from Wigan’s football ground to Blackpool. The aim of the walk is to raise money to try and find a cure for the rare genetic metabolic disorder Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinaemia. In 2024, Danielle and her dad did the same walk, this time from Blackpool to Wigan. In March 2026, Danielle will be joining another Joseph Goal walk, this time over 2.5 days from Bradford to Wigan.
Her other main target for 2026 is to do the 3 Peaks Challenge. Over three days, she will climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales starting with Ben Nevis, then tackling Scafell pike and finishing with Snowdon.
Always Moving, Always Smiling
When she isn’t doing a challenge, Danielle stays active by attending circuit training two to three times a week (she is aiming to complete 100 sessions in 2026), playing football, training for badminton competitions. In 2025 she competed in the Special Olympics National Badminton Competition in Walsall and another major event in Derby, representing Lincolnshire against athletes from across the UK.
Award winning inspiration
Danielle was recognised for her personal achievements as winner of the Active Achievement Award at the Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2025. Danielle proves that sport is not just about winning, but about confidence, friendship, and believing in yourself.
Hear from Danielle and her dad Steve in this video filmed for the awards.