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Meet alumnus and Paris Paralympics Medallist - Dani Caverzaschi

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Meet alumnus and Paris Paralympics Medallist - Dani Caverzaschi

This summer’s Paralympic Games saw a triumphant return to form for Warwick Economics graduate and professional wheelchair tennis player Daniel Caverzaschi after almost two years off the court owing to injury and surgery.

With his doubles partner Martín de la Puente, Daniel won Spain's ever first medal in wheelchair tennis - a bronze – in a dramatic match on the famous Roland Garros courts.

Daniel’s Paralympian journey began during his first year at Warwick, when he qualified for the London 2012 Games.

He shares with us some reflections on his summer of sport, memories of his time at Warwick and his busy life away from the courts:

Tell us about your experience of taking part in the Paralympic Games in Paris. What was the atmosphere like?

The atmosphere in Paris was something truly special. Winning the bronze medal against the French pair on the courts of Roland Garros, stadium absolutely packed, was a moment that dreams are made of. Seeing a full stadium for wheelchair tennis was an absolute highlight for me. And confronting a full stadium of French cheering like crazy for my opponents (and sometimes even booing us), may sound funny, but actually represents the integration I want: where people don’t see the disability in us, but just the fierce competitors who, in this case, they want to beat! This is the perfect representation of disability normalisation, isn’t it?

It’s hard to say if these were my favourite Games, but I will certainly never forget them. Just being there was already a personal victory, and winning Spain’s first-ever wheelchair tennis medal made it even more unforgettable.

One clear takeaway from Paris is that interest in adapted sports is growing significantly.

What were your expectations going into the Games – in singles and in doubles?

At the start of the year, my main goal was simply to qualify. After the injuries and surgeries, I wasn’t sure how far I could go. In singles, I wanted to build on my past performances, but the Games felt too soon after my injury. However, all my singles matches had a lot of drama, and when I put everything into perspective, I’m satisfied with my performance.

In doubles, Martín and I knew we had a chance, but we had to beat one of the favourite pairs, the Dutch. Once we did, we knew we could make history. The semifinals are still hard to think about—we lost against the world number 2 pair in a super tie-break by just two points. That’s elite sports for you! We had a strong chance going into the bronze match, but playing against the hosts is always complicated. Perhaps it was meant to be that we had to lose the semifinals to win the bronze against the French. After all, they say the Spanish love playing at Roland Garros!

What do you think of as your most satisfying career achievements?

Winning the bronze medal in Paris is definitely one of my career highlights. It wasn’t just about the medal but about the long road it took to get there. My Paralympic diplomas in Rio and Tokyo were also important milestones. These moments are special because they show my consistent effort over the years and the progress we’ve made in wheelchair tennis as a sport. Of course, the Paralympic Games are extra special, but we also compete in the four Grand Slams—playing at Wimbledon, the US Open, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open is an experience like no other. I can’t wait for the Grand Slam season to kick off in Australia in 2025; I feel more ready than ever. The best is yet to come, my friends!

How have you managed to stay so competitive at the elite level for so long in a sport in which the competition keeps getting tougher?

It comes down to discipline, both physically and mentally. The level of competition keeps increasing, which pushes me to work even harder. I focus a lot on physical training, but mental conditioning is just as important. Surrounding myself with the right people has also been crucial. I’ve always had a great team behind me, and their support has helped me maintain my competitive edge. I also have very clear goals, which keeps my hunger for success alive.

Another key factor, and something which I think is important for sports but for life in general, is keeping a resilience mindset and seeing all the barriers that come to you as opportunities to grow and to come back stronger. I’m very proud of how I’ve managed the setbacks in my career and in life. This has led me to come back so fast to the Top10 after a serious injury and surprise everyone - even myself - this past year.

Where did your initial interest in tennis start? And who has been most instrumental throughout your career?

I’ve loved tennis for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my parents encouraged me to play many sports, regardless of my disability. I really enjoyed skiing, but it’s probably best I swapped the skis for the racket because I’m known to be a bit too daring! Once I started playing wheelchair tennis, I knew it was the sport for me. It's also one of the most professionalized adapted sports out there, with a strong competitive yearly calendar. My family has always supported me, and I’ve had amazing coaches who have guided me throughout my career. There have been many people along the way—mentors, teammates, and even competitors—who have inspired me to keep improving. A big shoutout as well to my sponsors, some of which have been supporting me for the past decade, for believing in me throughout all these years.

How did you manage to combine intensive training - and qualification for London 2012! - with studying for your (first-class) degree at Warwick?

Ufff, that was a tough one. I can remember the exact moments as if it were yesterday… I remember my conversation with Robin Naylor where I had to make a decision in February whether I should take a gap year in order to focus on traveling the world and qualify for London 2012, or attempt both things at the same time, risk failing one of the exams and not being able to take the resits because it coincided with the Games. It wasn’t an easy decision. Robin was incredibly supportive and gave me the confidence I needed. I obviously chose the risky decision… And it was all about time management and a lot of discipline. Balancing my degree with training for the London 2012 Paralympics and traveling 9 weeks in 3 months all around the world from February to May, just before the end of year exams, was extremely challenging and stressful, but as I said I’m someone who enjoys a good challenge. I had to make sacrifices, but ultimately, my passion for both tennis and my studies kept me motivated. And the confidence that my parents and Robin gave me in giving it my best. Late nights, early mornings, and discovering the role of coffee in those moments were part of the routine, but it was worth it in the end. The grind it took to accomplish those goals led me to one of my most happy memories. That’s when I realized that giving it all, regardless of the outcome (in this case it was positive but in other cases it wasn’t), brings happiness.

What are your strongest memories of studying Economics at Warwick?

Warwick was an amazing place to study. I have great memories and made many friendships that last to this day. Aside from the social element, graduating with a first-class degree in Economics was a huge sense of accomplishment. The university was a community that supported and encouraged me, both academically and athletically, while the discipline I learned during my time at Warwick has carried over into my tennis career.

Please bring us up to date with what you’ve been doing professionally away from the tennis court since you graduated.

Since graduating, I’ve focused a lot on using my platform to promote and normalize disability through sport. In 2023, I co-founded VLP Sports, which works with brands to raise awareness about athletes with disabilities and create impactful campaigns. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and it made sense to combine my passion for sports with disability normalization and apply some of the elements I learned with my economics degree as well!

How do you combine elite tennis with your other roles and ambitions?

It’s definitely a balancing act. Tennis is my main focus, but my work with VLP Sports is also a big part of my life. I’ve learned to manage my time effectively and have built a great team to support me in both areas. It’s not always easy and requires making sacrifices, but I’m passionate about both and have found a way to make it work. My team helps keep everything on track, allowing me to continue competing while also pursuing my other professional goals.

You have written that one of your passions is to motivate people to see problems as opportunities for growth and differences as advantages. Could you tell us more about this as an approach to life?

I believe that we all face challenges, but it’s how we respond to those challenges that defines us. I was born with my disability, but I didn’t let that stop me from pursuing my dreams. Instead, I’ve used it as a source of strength. I want to show people that differences are not limitations—they are opportunities to grow and excel. My goal is to create a world where social barriers don’t exist, and where everyone is judged on their abilities, not their disabilities. This is my mission, and it’s also the mission of my company, VLP Sports.

We wish Daniel every success in his 2025 matches!

Photo (published with permission of Dani Caverzaschi): Dani Caverzaschi (left) with Martín de la Puente (right) at the Paris Paralympics Games 2024.