There are athletes who race the Yukon Arctic Ultra, and there are those whose presence quietly shapes it. Daniel Benhammou belongs firmly in the latter.
With something like seven YAU finishes to his name, Daniel is a true veteran – calm, mild-mannered, endlessly good-humoured, and always glass-half-full. He has a way of lifting the people around him, crew and athletes alike, simply by being himself. His impact reaches far beyond his own race.
Year after year, Daniel arrives at the finish line looking cool, collected, and unflustered – much like fellow YAU stalwart Jessie Gladish, the only woman ever to complete the long distance in all three disciplines. This time, though, the Dena Cho Trail finally coaxed the first hint of a sweat from him, proving itself a worthy challenge even for the most seasoned.
We’re grateful, as always, to have Daniel as part of this race. We look forward to staying in touch as the year goes on – and, knowing Daniel, to seeing him back out on the trail again before too long.
