As a standout swimmer and honors student, Abby Daniel has learned how to thrive in the deep end — both literally and figuratively.
The exercise science pre-professional major from Northern Virginia is set to graduate from The University of Akron (UA) on May 10, capping off a collegiate career filled with academic achievements, athletic accolades and a strong sense of community. Daniel, who competed for the Zips swimming and diving team, is an NCAA All-American, a Mid-American Conference Champion and a dedicated researcher, having recently completed her Honors College project on shoulder mobility in adolescent swimmers.
What’s next? Graduate school. Daniel is headed to Cleveland State University in January 2026 to pursue a doctor of physical therapy.
Though she’s always been fascinated by the mechanics of the human body — especially in the context of swimming, which she describes as “a physics-oriented sport” — Daniel’s interest in physical therapy is rooted in personal experience. As the oldest of seven siblings, she watched one of her younger sisters recover from a serious shoulder injury with the help of physical therapy — an experience that not only sparked her curiosity, but also inspired her. That same sister would go on to become a Division I athlete herself.
“One of my younger sisters had a freak shoulder injury when she was really young,” she said. “It was the first time I had heard of physical therapy. I ended up taking a sports medicine class in high school and fell in love with it from there.”
It’s that mindset that has helped Daniel make the most of her college experience. When asked what advice she’d give to younger Zips, especially student-athletes, she was honest about the effort it takes.
“Whatever you set your mind to, it’s probably never going to be easy. You’re always going to have to be working, putting your head down,” she said. “But it’s going to be so worth it in the end. Now that I’m on the other side, I can look back and see all the work I’ve done and really embrace every moment of it — the early mornings, the late nights, the laughs, the tears. That’s where some of my best memories are from.”
Daniel was recently nominated to be a student speaker at the upcoming Commencement ceremony,representing the College of Health and Human Sciences, a recognition she said meant even more because it had to do with character and circumstances that are also outside of sports.
“When it’s sports, I get it — you can see the progress, it’s very linear,” she said. “But to be nominated by professors, it puts into perspective how much of an impact I can have. I just hope I can be that person for someone else. If there’s someone sitting in the audience who hears one piece of something I say, and it clicks for them — that would mean everything.”
Her message to fellow graduates is simple.
“You don’t have to be the best at everything — I don’t have the highest GPA or the most volunteer hours — but if you put your best foot forward, that’s all anyone can ask. Stats on a paper are nice, but consistency and effort? That’s what takes you the farthest.”
As a member of an all-female athletics team, Daniel also hopes to inspire other women to chase their goals unapologetically.
“To any female student-athletes or women in general — don’t discredit yourself or beat yourself down. You never know how far you can take yourself if you just give yourself the chance,” she said.
And for Daniel, that chance has already turned into something remarkable, with even bigger things to come.
Accolades:
- MAC freshman of the year
- MAC swimmer of the year (x3)
- UA record holder (x3)
- MAC conference record holder (x3)
- MAC 1st team all team (x3)
- NCAA qualifier (x2)
- All- American honorable mention (x2)
- Competed in the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials