Melissa received press and exposure in first quarter of 2016 as she prepared for the Paralympic Games Olympics – she secured several major brand endorsements i.e. Under Armor and Chobani Yogurt to name a few.
At first glance Melissa Stockwell may 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 combat. 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 Paratriathlon and is now a three-time World Champion. She was named USAT’s female Paratriathlete of the Year for two consecutive years and was twice nominated for an ESPY award. She recently completed her first Ironman.
Melissa is on the board of directors for the Wounded Warrior Project, serves on the USAT Mideast triathlon council and the USAT Women’s Committee. She is an experienced motivational speaker, and has spoken for numerous Fortune 500 including BP, Accenture, The Hartford, Deloitte, Microsoft and many others. Melissa has been featured in countless media outlets including People, Sports Illustrated, The Chicago Tribune and a Triathlon Magazine cover story. She was also featured in the documentary ‘From Baghdad to Beijing’ which chronicled Melissa and 3 other wounded warriors’ journey from the Roads of Baghdad to the Paralympics Games. Melissa is proud to have served her country as a member first of The U.S. Army and now as part of Team USA. She is currently preparing to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games and on November 24, 2014 she welcomed her first child, son Dallas Patrick.
Melissa talks about overcoming obstacles, perseverance and living life to it’s fullest.