Shawn began her career in service to her country, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1996. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan, she was injured in 2007 while deployed. Her recovery journey led her to a local bike shop and eventually to competitive cycling, inspired by the 2010 Warrior Games.
Shawn quickly rose through the ranks, breaking the C4 pursuit world record at the 2016 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. Later that year, she made her Paralympic debut. She has competed at three Paralympic Games – Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 – earning three gold medals and one silver throughout her career. She’s also earned 16 world championship medals, including 12 golds.
Off the bike, Shawn is passionate about coaching, mentoring young athletes, and speaking publicly about the power of setting and pursuing goals.
