Veteran.
Paralympian.
Mom. Speaker.

Watch Melissa Speak

"Melissa’s story and message to our health professional graduates was inspiring, challenging and encouraged each of us to live bold and full lives. It moved, not only our graduates, but the 1600 family members and friends in attendance. It was the first time in my 25 years of academics to see an entire audience spontaneously rise to give a commencement speaker a standing ovation…and that ovation was well-deserved." –Harold P. Jones Dean and Professor, School of Health professions University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Melissa, you forced us to take stock of how we view our own lives with your TEDxVail Talk, "Choose Your Story." We laughed when you flipped your leg completely around to show off your sweet new dance move. You stand on one leg with more courage and grace than many of us do on two. You moved hundreds to tears in the audience. Thanks, Melissa, for your powerful idea! You entice us all to choose life stories worth repeating." –Kat Haber TEDx Vail

Watch theTEDx Talk
"We were so happy to have Melissa speak at our Sales and Marketing Offsite. There was not a dry eye in the audience and she left us all feeling inspired, motivated and incredibly proud to have her on our team." –Peter McGuinness, CMO Chobani
"Melissa’s story inspires and drives home an important message fitting for any audience: success is driven by focusing on what you do have as opposed to what you don’t. What Melissa has already accomplished in her life is remarkable and it is clear her best is yet to come." –Chicago Bears

Melissa was born a patriot and was commissioned into the US Army in 2002.

After being deployed to Iraq in 2004, she became the first female American soldier to lose a limb in active combat, when her vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. She was honored with a purple heart and a bronze star and made a promise not to let losing a leg slow her down.

Four years later she became the first Iraq war Veteran to qualify for the Paralympic games, competing in swimming at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics where was selected to be the flag bearer for Team USA. She then turned to the sport of triathlon and went on to compete in the 2016 Paralympic games where she became a bronze medalist and again in Tokyo 2021 and is now training towards Paris 2024 in hopes of her 4th Paralympics.

She is a business owner with her husband, co-founder of Dare2tri Paratriathlon club but is most proud to be a mom to her two kids Dallas and Millie. She is a patriot in the truest sense!