Danny is willing to speak openly about his condition, and he appreciates the people who care to inquire. However, he has explicitly told close friends and family to stop asking because the answer is always the same. When he faces the questions, he’ll often summon his supreme sarcastic powers to deflect.
“I don't want to mask myself too much, but at the same time, I'm like, what else do you want me to do? You want me to show up and tell everyone how much it sucks, that I feel terrible?”
Danny seldom mentions his pain or requests any kind of help, Richardson confirmed. The only real signs of discomfort are when he sits on a chair during a game or if his shoes are untied. One time, a mutual friend pointed the latter out to Danny, to which he responded that he couldn’t do anything about it. His hands were too weak to tie a tight knot.
Although he’s far from 100% healthy, Danny is back with his team full time. He hasn’t missed a game yet this season (which started in August) for purposes related to GBS. On top of that, Team Casper is performing better than they ever he. They’re the highest-ranked U.S. curling team in the world (8th). The guys are firing on all cylinders and the timing couldn’t be better with the Olympic Trials around the corner.
“We’re the best team in the U.S.” Danny confidently declared. “For the last year and a half or two, we've kind of felt that, and we think that we he the best foundation in terms of team dynamics and communication and mental fortitude. We're just super confident that will get us through a lot.”
Adversity can break teams. Team Casper grew stronger from it. They’re hungry and determined to prove why they should be the squad to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics. Not Team Shuster who has the gold-medal pedigree, not Team Dropkin who for years has been deemed Shuster’s heir apparent. Not Team Hebert, the scrappy up-and-comers who Team Casper used to be.
“The goal is to win everything,” Casper continued. “Be at the top, win the Olympics, be the number one team in the world. I don't understand why the goal is ever anything less than being the best.”
An exercise in self-identificationMore than 100 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls congregated in New York City late October for the aforementioned summit event. The athletes ranged from decorated, medal-winning veterans of the Games to those trying to break through. It was a chance to meet, share their athletic journeys and attend speaker sessions. Identity was a core theme throughout, and it resonated with Danny.
He’s been a curler for half of his life and his dream is to compete on the world’s biggest stage. What happens if he doesn’t win the Olympic Trials? Falls short at the subsequent Olympic Qualification Event? Never is able to call himself an Olympian?
@laneystrouse
Day 3 of the tournament vibes @dannycasper1
⬠Just stfu and eat your food - neeloWhat if he makes it as far as he possibly can in Milan Cortina without bringing home a medal? What if he wins gold?
You hear stories about post-Olympic blues. The comedown after sacrificing any semblance of a “normal” life to train, eat, sleep and repeat, all to reach a singular moment.
What if a disorder forces Danny to give up curling before he achieves his goals? What then?
“I don't know what I would do,” Casper conceded. “People ask what I like to do outside of curling? And I'm like, ‘outside of curling, what are you talking about?’”
“At the same time, I think about my health. If I feel like this for another two years, I don't know if I can curl much longer. I'm trying to wear it for now, and I'm definitely a lot better, but I can't…” he paused. “I cannot do this long term.”
As much as Guillain-Barré sucks, and I would rather not he had any of that happen, it’s a good way to see who really cares about you. Fortunately for me, a lot of people do.
Not many 24-year-olds he to think seriously about retirement. Then again, not many 24-year-olds he to deal with a debilitating disorder.
Regardless, Danny will continue to do what Danny does best, which is enjoy life and the people he meets along the way while, of course, sprinkling in a healthy dose of sarcasm.
“I don't know how much value I bring to this world, but I do know that if I can make one person smile or one person's life a little bit better because I was in it, that's all I could ever ask for.”