Melissa Stockwell
Encyclopedia
Melissa Stockwell is an American paratriathlete and former swimmer and U.S. Army officer. A first lieutenant, she was the first woman soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War. She lost her left leg when a roadside bomb exploded when she was leading a convoy in Baghdad. For her service in Iraq she was awarded the Bronze Star
and the Purple Heart
. Stockwell is the regining two time Paratriathlon World Champion in the Tri 2 classification.
She subsequently became the first Iraq veteran chosen for the Paralympics. She competed in three swimming events
, the 100 meter butterfly, 100 meter freestyle, and 400 meter freestyle, at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
and finished sixth, fifth, and fourth in her heats, respectively. She was the U.S. team's flag bearer at the closing ceremonies.
Stockwell trains at the United States Olympic Training Center
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
, as part of the Veterans Paralympic Performance Program.
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Stockwell is the regining two time Paratriathlon World Champion in the Tri 2 classification.
She subsequently became the first Iraq veteran chosen for the Paralympics. She competed in three swimming events
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
The swimming events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics were held in the Beijing National Aquatics Center between September 7 and September 15, 2008. A total of 140 gold medals were expected to be distributed.-Classifications:...
, the 100 meter butterfly, 100 meter freestyle, and 400 meter freestyle, at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
and finished sixth, fifth, and fourth in her heats, respectively. She was the U.S. team's flag bearer at the closing ceremonies.
Stockwell trains at the United States Olympic Training Center
United States Olympic Training Center
The United States Olympic Training Centers are three campuses created by the United States Olympic Committee as training facilities for its Olympic and Paralympic athletes. They are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Lake Placid, New York; and Chula Vista, California. There is a U.S. Olympic...
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, as part of the Veterans Paralympic Performance Program.
Filmography
- Warrior Champions: From Baghdad to BeijingWarrior Champions: From Baghdad to BeijingWarrior Champions: From Baghdad to Beijing is a 2009 American documentary film directed by the Renaud Brothers. The films tells the individual stories of four American soldiers who lost limbs or suffered paralysis in Iraq, and of their training to try for a berth on the 2008 U.S...
, a documentary filmDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by directors Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud.