Melissa Stockwell
At first glance Melissa Stockwell may appear to be the quintessential Mid-western All-American girl, but she is far more.
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- American War Hero
- U.S. Paralympian
- Three Time World Champion Triathlete
- Competitor in RIO Paralympics
- Won a bronze medal on the beach in Rio de Janeiro at the first-ever Paralympic triathlon event
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At first glance Melissa Stockwellmay appear to be the quintessential Mid-western All-American girl, but she is far more. She is an American war hero who has triumphed over personal tragedy to achieve greatness, World Champion status, and she has dedicated her life to chasing remarkable accomplishments while giving back to others, particularly those who face challenges similar to her own.
In 2002, Melissa graduated from the University of Colorado and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. In March 2004, she deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. Just three weeks later, a blast from a roadside bomb struck Melissa’s Humvee causing the loss of her left leg above the knee. After enduring numerous infections and surgeries, Melissa was medically retired from the Army. She is the first female to ever loose a limb in active combatand has been awarded both The Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Following her military career, athletics become a way of life for Melissa. In April of 2008, she became the first Iraqi War Veteran to qualify for the Paralympics. She competed in three swimming events and was honored by her fellow Team USA athletes to be selected to carry the American flag in the closing ceremonies. After Beijing, Melissa turned to the sport of Paratriathlonand is now a three-time World Champion. She was named USA Triathlon’s female Paratriathleteof the Year for two consecutive years and was twice nominated for an ESPY award. Melissa is currently training for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games where she will compete for gold on September 11th.
Melissa has shared her remarkable story, and the inspiring insights she has uncovered along the way, to standing ovations across the country for Fortune 500s, military bases, professional organizations, charities, government events and countless schools. Recently (January) She was a breakout star of TEDxVail 2016.
If you ask Melissa Stockwell to describe herself one of the first things you’ll hear is, “I am a Patriot, a lover of the red, the white and the blue.” So much so that she had an American flag stitched to the inside of her wedding dress.
Melissa proudly wore the uniform of the United States Army, where she very nearly gave her life for her country. Today, she proudly wears the uniform of Team USA as a World Champion athlete and Paralympic medalist.
Melissa shares her inspiring story, from the battlefields of Bagdad to the podium on the beach of Rio de Janeiro, in an emotionally powerful presentation that leaves audiences forever changed to see ability not disability, to maximize what you do have and forget about what you don’t and to apply, as she details, “…the amazing power of choice.”
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