Daniela di Toro

Started: She took up Para table tennis in 2014. (abc.net.au, 27 May 2016) Reason: In November 2012 she sustained a chemical burn injury that prevented her from playing wheelchair tennis. She went to a local table tennis club to keep herself active. "It happened to be where one of the Paralympic preparation programme teams was training. They just welcomed me with open arms. It's so different to tennis but it's a nice challenge, it's got me out of a lot of comfort zones. Table tennis is one of the greatest sports in the world and everyone should have the opportunity to be able to play it. It is for all ages and all abilities." (sportaus.gov.au, 13 Apr 2021; heraldsun.com.au, 03 Sep 2016; abc.net.au, 27 May 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Games in Paris. (sol2023.com.sb, 17 Nov 2023) Awards: In 2023 she received the Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award in Australia. (Table Tennis Victoria Facebook page, 19 Oct 2023; tabletennisvic.org.au, 19 Oct 2023) She was named the 2009 Female Sportsperson of the Year by Victoria University in Australia. (vu.edu.au, 01 Nov 2009) In 2000 she received the Australian Sports Medal. (paralympic.org.au, 26 Nov 2019; paralympic.org, 04 Feb 2016) In 1999 she was named Australian Paralympian of the Year. (paralympic.org.au, 08 Jan 2012) Additional Info: WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TO PARA TABLE TENNIS She retired from competitive wheelchair tennis after an accident in 2012 that saw her suffer chemical burns, and began playing table tennis to remain active. She went on to secure a wildcard for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, after competing at five consecutive Paralympic Games in wheelchair tennis. "I was playing in my everyday chair, I didn't know how to serve properly, I didn't know the rules. I certainly wasn't the best table tennis player there, but I was the most experienced athlete and a lot of those clutch environments are down to how you maintain your mind. It was never really pretty, but it resulted in me winning that wildcard. I wish I had come to table tennis earlier, it is a wicked sport. Rio was one of those beautiful experiences where, watching our athletes perform at that level, I felt more pride about that than the medals or championships I'd won. I never thought I'd make six Games in a row in two different sports, and this one [Rio] as a genuine rookie was special." (sbs.com.au, 26 Nov 2019; paralympic.org, 27 Apr 2016; sportaus.gov.au, 13 Apr 2021; heraldsun.com.au, 03 Sep 2016; abc.net.au, 27 May 2016) TOKYO CAPTAIN In 2019 she and wheelchair rugby player Ryley Batt were appointed the Australian team co-captains for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She also co-captained the team with wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. "The captaincy is a visceral and daily reminder that you're something more than your own performance. It's beyond humbling. The first time was such a proud moment, but the second time, not many people get to do that." (paralympic.org.au, 26 Nov 2019; sbs.com.au, 26 Nov 2019; paralympic.org, 27 Apr 2016) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2017 she was elected as vice chairperson of the Paralympics Australia athlete commission, and she has also led the commission's athlete engagement subcommittee. (The Australian Paralympian, 18 Oct 2020; paralympic.org.au, 01 Jan 2020, 26 Nov 2019)