Melissa Stockwell
Stockwell graduated in 2002 from the University of Colorado, where she participated in the ROTC program during her last three years. In May 2002, she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the United States Army. Soon after her commission, she attended Transportation Officer Basic Corps in Ft. Eustis, Va., before getting her permanent assignment to the 1st Cavalry division in Ft. Hood, Texas. In March 2004, her unit was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq.
On April 13, 2004, she was on a routine convoy and was hit by a roadside bomb. The blast blew off her left leg, and today Stockwell stands as an above-the-knee amputee. After spending a year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and undergoing multiple surgeries and rehabilitation, she was medically retired from the Army.
For her service, Stockwell was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, along with a handful of other prestigious awards.
Stockwell was introduced to swimming through physical therapy at Walter Reed. She had been a diver in high school and had always loved the water. Stockwell had heard of the Paralympic Games and after researching the sports and the competition, she started swimming more. When she moved to Minnesota in May 2005, she found a club team and started training with the goal of making the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team.
At the U.S. Paralympic Team Swimming Trials, in April 2008, Stockwell posted times fast enough to land her a spot on this year's Paralympic Team. She is a current American record holder in the 400m freestyle and will be swimming the 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and the 400m freestyle in Beijing. Making the team was a dream come true for Stockwell and she credits hard work, love of the sport and the support of her husband in making it this far. She couldn't feel more proud and honored to be representing her country for a second time over in Beijing.
Along with swimming, Stockwell is training to become a prosthetist and fit other amputees with artificial limbs. She works for Scheck and Siress Prosthetic and Orthotic Company in Chicago.
Major Achievements:
- 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Swimming - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2008: American record, 400m freestyle - U.S. Paralympic Swimming Trials, Minneapolis, Minn.
