Paralympic Games star Danielle Campo to receive National Hero Honour from Canada’s Walk of Fame

Photo: Canada’s Walk of Fame

WINDSOR, Ont. – Danielle Campo is making a big splash again.

On Friday, the triple Para swimming Paralympic champion and disability rights advocate was announced as the National Hero Honour recipient from Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Rick Hansen will present the award to Campo at a special Canada’s Walk of Fame Celebration on Wednesday, November 20 at Toronto’s Liberty Grand. Past recipients include Super Bowl champion Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

Campo competed at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games. In Sydney, she was a triple gold medallist, victorious in the S7 50m and 100m freestyles and the 4x100m free relay. She added silver in the 400 free.

In Athens, she marched three more times to the podium with a silver and two bronze. In addition, she collected two gold and a bronze at the 2002 World Championships and bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

After retiring as an athlete, Campo was a national ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Canada for over 15 years. She also served as Director of Culture and Engagement at Muscular Dystrophy Canada, where her leadership was instrumental in raising over $5 million for neuromuscular disease research.

Now as Mental Health Lead at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, she focuses on promoting mental well-being, inclusivity, and support for students with various challenges, including disabilities and mental health issues.

‘’It’s why I’m here today because I had those skills in my toolbox from being an athlete,’’ Campo, diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), told Breakfast Television this past summer. ‘’In sport I found my freedom. I found a world where I could just set goals and achieve them.

‘’I took off from there.”

She has three children and is stepmother to two more. Two of her youngest children are diagnosed with SMA.

Her biggest victory wasn’t in the pool. In 2021, Campo made national headlines when she survived near-fatal complications following her daughter’s birth.

Campo shared her incredible journey in her memoir: “Resurrections: My Will to Survive is Olympian’’. It offers direct perspective on overcoming life’s hurdles. Purchase HERE.

Campo also finalist in public speaking contest

In addition, Campo will take part in Speaker Slam’s Grand Slam: The Inspirational Speaking Finals on November 9 at the CBC Glen Gould studio in Toronto, against 13 others from across Canada and the U.S.

The winner receives a $50,000 prize package.

In July, Campo won the Speaker Slam in Toronto with a speech on perseverance. This year’s Grand Slam theme is Brave, challenging speakers to share stories of courage and resilience.

“I will continue to share my story to help people know our obstacles can be our motivation.’’