Melissa Stockwell

At first glance, Melissa Stockwell may appear to be the quintessential Mid western All American mom, 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.

Melissa graduated from the University of Colorado and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. She deployed to Baghdad, Iraq where a blast from a roadside bomb struck her 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 soldier to ever lose a limb in active combat and 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 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.

In 2007, Melissa completed the prosthetic practitioner program at Century College in Minnesota where she learned to fit other amputees with artificial limbs. She is also a level 1 certified triathlon coach and co-founder of the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club, helping others with disabilities enjoy the sport of triathlon and embrace active living.

On September 11, 2016, at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Melissa raced in honor of her fellow soldiers and their families who had given the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting America. After a grueling race, the day ended on the podium, as the newly crowned Paralympic Bronze Medalist.

Six weeks before the 2021 Paralympics, Melissa broke her back in a training accident, derailing her hopes of winning a gold medal. Nevertheless, despite the pain, she managed to compete at the Paralympic Games, finishing 5 th . She is currently training for one more shot at a Paralympic Gold Medal at the Paris Games in 2024.

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.

Melissa is married and a proud mother of two. On November 24, 2014 she welcomed her first child, son Dallas Patrick and on August 2, 2017, she welcomed her second child, Amelia (Millie) Lynn.

What Melissa Speaks About

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.” 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 describes, “…the amazing power of choice.”