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Hall of Fame

Danielle Brennan Myrdal

  • Class
  • Induction
    2002
  • Sport(s)

Class of 1998
Sport: Sailing 

Athletic Accomplishments:

An award-winning sailor in high school, Daniellecontinued to excel while at St. Mary’s and was a four-timeIntercollegiate Sailing Association Women’s All-American. Asa first-year, (1994-95), she was named the 1994 Rolex Yachtswomanof the Year, becoming the only collegiate sailor at the time to winthat award. The same year, she also won the At­lantic CoastWomen’s Inter-collegiate Yacht Racing Association (ICYRA)Dinghy Cham­pionship; the Women’s Single-handed ICYRANational Sailing Championship; placed second in the InternationalYacht Racing Union Women’s Single-handed Championship (theonly U.S. sailor to medal despite sailing with a broken ankle); andwas named to the All Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate SailingAssociation (MAISA) team. As a sophomore (1995-96), she was theCollege’s Female Athlete of the Year; a member of theschool’s women’s sailing team that qualified to competeat the ICYRA/Sperry Topsider National Women’s SailingChampionship; and the 1995 Women’s Dinghy North Americancham­pion. She placed ninth out of 19 in the European DinghyClass at the 1996 Olympic Trials. Her junior year (1996-97), shewas the Single-handed and Doublehanded National Champion and atwo-time U.S. Open Women’s Single-handed Champion. Shefinished 15th overall at the U.S. Laser National Championship (100places ahead of the next female sailor). She won her second ICYRAWomen’s Single-handed National Sailing Championship and settwo ICYRA records. Danielle was also co-captain of the springsailing team. As a senior (1997-98), she was named the ICYRAAll-American for the fourth time. She was the only woman to qualifyfor the Mid-Atlantic Coed Singlehanded Championships, accomplishingthat feat twice and was the first St. Mary’s athlete to befeatured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in theCrowd” section. She placed 9th out of 19 in the Europeandinghy class at 1996 US Olympic trials.

Post-CollegiateAccomplishments:

Danielle was named to the US Sailing Team in August2010. She sails a Laser Radial.

Most Memorable Sports Experience at St.Mary’s:

“I have a lot of memorable experiences as partof the St. Mary’s sailing team. Winning the Women’sDouble-handed National Championship was probably the best as it wasa team event and the win was shared by several of us.”

Balancing Academics and Athletics at St.Mary’s:

“I remember spending a lot of time studyingwhile in the team van, driving to regattas across the East Coast. Ididn’t have any problem balancing the academics as I had thesame discipline in academics as I had in my sailing.”

Thoughts on St. Mary’sCollege:

“I have great memories of St. Mary’s and find myselfdaydreaming every once in a while on the great friendships,professors, sailing coaches and good times I had.”

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