When a sledding accident left Dave Denniston paralyzed from the waist down, the world would have understood if he’d let anger and frustration consume him. Instead, he chose to rise above it.
As top U.S swimmer, NCAA National Champion and world record holder, Dave carved out a path of success during his career as a swimmer. Today, he sits down with Brett and talks about the journey he has taken both in and out of the pool. Hear about their time spent swimming as teammates at Auburn University and the lessons they learned that would shape their careers. Listen in as Dave shares the key to his positive outlook on life and all the ways he’s redefined it’s meaning with his experience as a Paraolympian, coach and public speaker.
“I had as perfect of a body as I could physically make but realize now that my attitude had always been paralyzed.” -Dave Denniston [29:34]
Key Takeaways:
- How Dave Denniston became a Paralympian.
- His history as a swimmer.
- Brett and Dave’s time spent swimming for Auburn University.
Episode Timeline:
- [00:03] Intro
- [00:22] Dave Dennison on branching out from his Wyoming roots
- [01:21] Why he got into swimming
- [02:15] His first Olympic memories
- [03:28] Falling in love with the breaststroke
- [04:08] Choosing Auburn University in ‘97
- [07:39] Taking shortcuts and learning from mistakes
- [10:47] How the Auburn Team rebounded
- [13:29] Brett on gaining confidence from his team
- [16:12] Dave on competing against Ed Moses and NCAA Championships
- [22:48] Starting a new journey in 2005 after becoming paralyzed
- [26:22] How his accident was a blessing in disguise
- [30:14] Feeling restricted and focusing on finding a way
- [31:32] Dave's speaking work
- [32:23] Becoming a Paralympian
- [33:59] Getting into coaching
- [34:57] Overcoming restrictions
- [35:52] What Dave Denniston is looking forward to in the future
- [37:18] Thoughts on the Paralympics and Jessica Long
- [40:16] Outro
Key Quotes:
- “The other thing about growing up in Wyoming is, this is a blue-collar state and you work hard for whatever you get in life...I might not have the biggest hands and feet or the most talent, but I can work as hard or harder than anybody else.” -Dave Denniston [18:56]
- “When you really look at what this sport does for people. Especially a kid from a town of a thousand people in nowhere Wyoming, is it just gives you so many opportunities to grow as a person and to learn about who you are.” -Dave Denniston [21:46]
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On Instagram: @davodawavo
On Twitter: @davodenniston
Special Thanks:
Fitter & Faster Swim Camps
Swimnerd Pace Clocks