Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Discus throw: 2001 (U14) – 1st, 2002 (U16) – 3rd, 2002 (U18) – 3rd, 2003 (U18) – 3rd, 2004 (U20) – 6th, 2005 – 2nd (1st Australian), (U20) – 1st, 2006 – 2nd (1st Australian), 2007 – 1st, 2008 – 1st, 2009 – 1st, 2010 – 1st, 2011 – 1st (61.79)

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
World youth championships: 2005 [Marrakesh, MAR] – 1st (54.09m)
Commonwealth Games: 2006 [Melbourne, AUS] – 3rd (59.44m)
World Junior Championships: 2006 [Beijing, CHN] – 1st (60.63m)
World Cup/Continental Cup: 2006 [Athens, GRE]– 6th (59.68m), 2010 [Split, CRO] – 4th (61.34)
World University Games: 2007 [Bangkok, THA] – 2nd (60.47m), 2009 [Belgrade, SRB] – 1st (62.48m)
World Championships: 2007 [Osaka JPN] – 6th qual round 13th overall (60.44m), 2009 [Berlin, GER] – 1st (65.44m), 2011 [Daegu, KOR] - 10th (59.14m)
Olympic Games: 2008 [Beijing, CHN] – 9th (60.15m)

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS
Discus throw: 65.84m – Sydney, 27/02/2010

RECORD(S)
National U20 record – discus: 61.92m –
Melbourne, 21/02/2008
National U18 record – discus: 58.52m – Brisbane,
26/11/2005

Honours

World Championship gold (2009)
Commonwealth bronze (2006)
6 x national champion (2006-2011)
World Youth Championship gold (2005)
World Junior Championship gold (2006)
World University gold (2009)

Interesting Facts

Dani started L ittle Athletics at a young age and
has played basketball at a national level. The
Sport Australia Hall of Fame awarded a Spirit
of Sport Scholarship to her in 2006. Dani’s hero
is German Franka Dietzsch, three-time world
champion, and she hopes to compete in as
many as five Olympics.

Dani’s manager, Hayden Knowles, is also
the strength and conditioning coach for the
Parramatta Eels rugby league team. She is
studying at the U niversity of Western Sydney.
Her older sister, Jamie, played basketball for
the Sydney Flames for five years while younger
sister Casey was selected for the NSW state
basketball squad.

In 2007 her coach Denis Knowles arranged
for U S champion discus thrower, Mac Wilkins,
who won gold in the 1976 Montreal Olympics
and silver at the 1984 L A Olympics, to visit
Dani in Australia. The visit led to a change
in her throwing technique and a year later
she became the youngest member of the
Australian track and field team.