Episode 82: Melissa Stockwell – Army Veteran, US Paralympian & CoFounder of Dare2tri

Episode Overview:

Melissa Stockwell is an Army Veteran and US Paralympian. She graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder in 2002 and was commissioned in the United States Army. Just a month after deploying to Iraq, Melissa’s vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. She was the first female American soldier to lose her limb in active combat. This injury didn’t stop her. Melissa would say “Once an athlete always an athlete” and her journey continued.

Athlete

While at Walter Reed, Melissa listened to a presentation about the US Paralympic team. Previously a gymnast with dreams of being on the US Olympic team this seemed like a perfect second chance. Just four years after her accident she qualified to compete in swimming at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. After the games Melissa shifted her focus to becoming a triathlete. In 2016 Melissa competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, on the US paratriathlon team, earning a bronze medal.

Olympic Training

Melissa is currently training full time as a triathlete at the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. When she’s not training she is busy being a wife, mom, sharing her story with others and inspiring others to do the same. She is the co-founder of Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. A club helping others compete in triathlons for the first time. You can find ways to follow her and her training below. And last but not least she is also a prosthetist, helping others fit and wear prosthetics.