Shawn Morelli

Started: Her first Para cycling competition was in 2010. (radio.wpsu.org, 11 Jan 2019) Reason: She was first exposed to competitive Para cycling at the 2010 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America. (teamusa.org, 30 Mar 2020) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (usparacycling.org, 13 Feb 2024) Additional Info: ARMY VETERAN She served in the US Army as an engineer officer. "I believe my career in the US Army has helped me in my cycling career, in many ways. First off, it helps me keep things in perspective. I mean when you have seen, done and been through some of the things I have, it is easy to just think to myself, 'I am just racing a bike'. It is not nearly as much pressure as when you are working in a combat zone and are responsible for the 30 lives around you - fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, husbands, wives. That is pressure, that is stress. As for the adrenaline aspect, it is pretty similar. It has taught me how to be full of adrenaline, keep my focus and do my job." (teamusa.org, 30 Mar 2020; paralympic.org, 06 Feb 2020) MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES She was medically retired from the US Army in 2012 due to the wounds she sustained in battle. "It took me a while to not only understand what happened to me and heal, but also to accept and even longer, to figure out what I was going to do with my life. This was a very up and down time in my life, I struggled with alcohol, which I used to deaden the pain. I was self-destructive and I attempted suicide. I wanted the mental and physical pain to end. It was not until I made a conscious decision while in the hospital recovering from that attempt that I was going to live, and live every day for all those who never came home. I made one simple goal, 'To be better today than I was yesterday'. Cycling has become my path to healing both mentally and physically." (infocrank.cc, 26 Jun 2020) FURTHER EDUCATION She completed a master's degree in public administration at Webster University in Webster Groves, MO, United States of America. (teamusa.org, Mar 2017)