A Wounded Warriors Project profile of Stockwell notes that she received 15 surgeries as a result of the bomb blast. At the time of the profile’s publication in 2006, Stockwell was earning a second bachelors degree – this time in prosthetics.
Doctors fitted Stockwell with a titanium prosthesis so she can walk around, but the leg comes off before she takes the starter’s blocks and gets ready to swim.
“I definitely made a decision early on that I was going to put it behind me and move on and try to do something positive,” Stockwell said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I lost my leg. Of course I would like to have my leg, but I have no regrets. It’s opened so many doors for me.”
According to a Washington Post profile of Stockwell, between four and 10 disabled veterans will eventually qualify for this year’s U.S. Paralympic Team. And, by the 2012 summer games in London, 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. team may be comprised of veterans.
As part of her Paralympics trials earlier this month, Stockwell set a new American record for the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
Below is a video profile of Stockwell produced by the Wounded Warriors Project.
