5 Most Inspirational Sports Stars Of All Time

Melissa Stockwell joined the US Army upon graduating from the University of Colorado in 2002, and was deployed to Iraq in March 2004. Just one month later the truck she was in was hit by a roadside bomb, and Stockwell ended up losing most of her left leg, becoming the first woman to ever lose a limb in active combat.

As part of her physical therapy following her above the knee amputation she started swimming. Having previously been a keen gymnast, Stockwell became driven towards a goal of reaching the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. She achieved her goal, qualifying for the US Swim Team, and competed in the 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, and 400m Freestyle, and was selected to carry the American flag in the closing ceremonies.

Stockwell now serves on the board of the Wounded Warrior Project and the USAT Foundation, and works as a motivational speaker, has become a paratriathlete, and will be competing in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.