Plant City resident, Tracy Otto, has been selected to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
However, if she’d been asked five years ago if becoming a Paralympian was on her bucket list, she’d probably have answered with a resounding ‘no’ because five years ago she would not have qualified for the international competition for athletes with a range of disabilities.
Otto’s tragedy to triumph story is nothing short of miraculous, a testament that sheer willpower, determination and grit can help someone not only live but thrive in the face of what seemed like insurmountable obstacles.
The 28-year-old’s life was forever altered when, on Oct. 24, 2019, her ex-boyfriend broke into her home while she was sleeping and savagely attacked her with a knife and high-powered pellet gun. The ambush left Otto paralyzed from the chest down and caused her to lose her left eye.
Confined to a wheelchair, Otto, who had been pretty athletic and into fitness, started looking for a new hobby. In 2021, she was in a car with her boyfriend, Rick Riessle, who was with her when the attack happened and was also injured, when a thought popped into her head. “I turned to him and said let’s shoot archery,” said Otto, who had never shot an arrow. “He reminded me that my hands didn’t work but I told him we’d figure it out.”
The following week they visited All People’s Community & Life Center in Tampa, that houses Hillsborough County Adaptive Sports program, and met Earl Brown, a volunteer and certified coach with USA archery who has a passion for the sport.
“She wasn’t sure if she could pull back a bow, but I told her if she can lift a bow, I can get her shooting,” said Brown.
Get her shooting he did. Brown used a velcro strap to keep the bow in her hand and fashioned a leather tab onto a string that she could put in her mouth, bite down and let go to make the arrow fly. While Otto can raise her arms, she lacks grip strength.
“Her very first shot she hit the target,” said Brown, who encourages people to focus on what they can do, on their abilities, instead of their disabilities. “I told her she could do whatever she put her mind to,” said Brown.
That day she set a lofty goal. Otto told Brown she was going to be an Olympic athlete in 2024 and that one day Bob Costas would be narrating her story.
After three years, several bow design changes, a new coach Matt Hall, dozens of competitions and tens of thousands of arrows shot, Otto will soon reach her goal (although Bob Costas won’t be narrating her story since he stepped away from the Olympics).
Along the way, she has racked up plenty of wins, taking gold in the 2024 Para Pan American Championships (Women’s W1) and 2024 Para Pan American Championships (mixed team) in Santiago, Chile. Those wins earned the USA quota slots at the 2024 games but not necessarily a place on the team. She learned she had qualified for the Paralympic Games on May 13 after competing in three Paralympic Trials Qualification Events in Arizona and Florida.
Brown, who was at the airport waiting to congratulate her when she got off the plane from Santiago, said her perseverance is an example for everyone. “Her true grit is what got her to where she is today, she and Ricky are amazing and I couldn’t be prouder,” he said.
Riessle, who’s been by Otto’s side since 2019, said he saw there was something special about her since the early days of their relationship. “When she was in the hospital, just days after she was able to speak again, she was just so determined that she wasn’t going to let her spinal cord injury define her life,” he said. “She has a level of determination I’ve never seen in anyone else.”
Otto credits her wins not only to her hard work and positive mindset but to those who’ve helped her along the way. “I’m not doing this alone, I have an amazing support system and an amazing man by my side,” said Otto. “It would be a dream to bring home gold at the games, not just for me but for everybody.”
The 2024 Paralympic Games take place Wed., Aug. 28 thru Sun., Sept. 8. Otto, Riessle (her arrow agent) and coach leave for Paris August 20.
While the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USPOC) will cover travel expenses to the Paris games, Otto is also competing in two upcoming mandatory tournaments to make the United States Archery Team (USAT). On top of travel costs and registration fees, she also requires specialized equipment, training and caregiver costs and is turning to her community for assistance. She has launched a Spot Fund campaign, (which can be found on her Facebook page at Tracy Otto) with the goal of raising $15,000 to cover upcoming costs. The site can also be reached by using the QR code.
As she continues her rigorous training regimen and prepares for the competitions ahead, she invites the community to join her on this incredible journey. Whether through donations or words of encouragement, every contribution makes a difference in her quest for Paralympic gold.