Dan grew up on a raspberry farm with his parents Jenny and Ian and his two sisters Mel and Lisa. He was passionate about playing AFL throughout his school years, but mountain biking was the family sport and eventually his love for riding his bike shone through. Dan raced throughout Australia as a Junior following in Mel’s tracks and was selected for his first Australian Team in 2002 to race the World Championships in Kaprun, Austria. In 2004 and in his first year as an Under 23, Dan joined the National team to follow the World Cup series, which took him to his first Olympic representation in Beijing in 2008.
Now in the Elite category, Dan was no longer a part of the Australian development and so Bec and Dan both travelled supporting each other for the next four years and into the 2012 Olympic Games – Dan’s second appearance!
Right off the back of his first professional team signing, Dan won the opening round of the World Cup in Albstadt, Germany. Prior to this huge result, Dan had only been in the top 20 once before with 19th Place! This gave Dan a huge boost of confidence and over the next two years he raced to the podium several times and finished second and third consecutively in the 2013 and 2014 World Cups!
After racing independently and unsupported again in 2017, Dan is very excited to be a part of the Spanish Primaflor Mondraker Rotor team for the 2018 season and is ready to do battle at the pointy end of the World Cup again.
Real Name: Daniel James McConnell
Date of Birth: 09/08/1985
Coach: Self
Physiotherapist: Phebe Liston
Team: Primaflor Mondraker Rotor
Born: Melbourne, Australia
Lives: Canberra, Australia
Height: 181cm
Weight: 68kg
Favorite Place: I have many favourite places across Europe – I love the Swiss and Italian alps but I’m most happy when I’m at home in Australia.
Favorite Food: Pizza & Lamb roast and all things sweet!
Favorite Ride: That’s a tough one! There are so many amazing trails in Australia and New Zealand.
Favorite Race: Albstadt 2013
Favorite App: Mad Skills BMX
2008, 2012 & 2016 Olympic Teams
2014 & 2018 Commonwealth Games Teams
2002, 2003, 2005-2009, 2011-2017 World Championship Teams