Daniel Dias was born in 1988 in Campinas, Brazil with congenital malformations in his upper extremities and right leg, but began swimming at age 16. He has competed in the Beijing and London Paralympics in 2008 and 2012, winning 10 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal. In 2009, he won the Laureus award for his swimming accomplishments despite his disabilities.