<div>Hi everyone, my name is William “Garrett” Schoonover, and I am a Wheelchair Fencer! As a US Army veteran, I can’t begin to express how excited I am to represent TEAM USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympics! Wheelchair fencing was created by wounded veterans as a way of keeping up morale in hospitals during WWII and is one of the original Paralympic events. In hindsight I realized my first practice was on Veteran’s Day 2021. It’s incredible to think of all the places I’ve been and people I’ve met since then.
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<div>In the course of chasing this dream, my family and I have had to make many sacrifices and I humbly seek your support to offset the costs of training, travel, lodging, and competition fees. I truly appreciate anything you are willing to give, and if you’re willing to spread the word, I am doubly grateful.
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<div>How we got here:
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<div>I was in a major motorcycle accident on June 2nd 2017 on the 405 in Los Angeles. At the time I was pursuing a graduate degree in Vocal Performance at UCLA. I was actually on my way to the final dress rehearsal of an opera when I was hit.
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<div>After four months and 13 limb-salvage surgeries, I decided I was done trying to save my leg - I was tired of fighting the losing battle and I knew I needed to get moving again for my physical and mental well being.
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<div>At the time, I was an Interrogator and Farsi Linguist (Sergeant) with the California National Guard’s 225th Expeditionary Intelligence Unit. I had been in for seven years, had met other amputees, and knew plenty of guys who’d had limb salvage operations that left them with lifelong pain and debilitations. I was an avid body builder and understood my best chance was to move forward with the amputation so I could avoid pain and future injury.
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<div>On September 28th 2017, the Orthopedic Surgery team at the University of Utah amputated my left leg above the knee.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/81663699_1722578448718595_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>I spent the next several weeks recovering, meeting other amputees at support groups, and rebuilding my strength. I took my “first steps” on November 17th.
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<div><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/mYrnLBD0dRk?si=570sT45Ze-e_TgUy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My first Steps Video</a>
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<div>By the end of the year I was packing up my stuff to move back to Los Angeles. I had a masters degree to finish!
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<div>I continued to struggle while learning how to live as an amputee, but I was determined. I got back to school and held roles in more operas. I traveled the country to sing in professional choruses from Los Angeles to Miami and multiple places in between. I returned to the gym and began to rebuild; I’d lost nearly 60 pounds during the four months I was out of commission.
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<div>I returned to personal training and began training clients in Hollywood, working mostly with folks in the “industry.” I adopted a rescue husky, Rascal, who - like me - was missing his rear left limb. We’re twins!
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<div>I completed my Masters Degree in 2020 during the height of the Covid Pandemic. You can see some videos of me singing here:
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<div><a href="https://youtu.be/GAGWNS2nWkc?si=_ddq8zhdItq15Ic7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Se Vuol Ballare by Mozart at a Charity concert</a>
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<div><a href="https://youtu.be/eQZA5rvKsuw?si=6rR2punNCyvlHo4E" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Master’s Degree Recital redo for covid lockdown</a>
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<div>As the pandemic wore on and work was scarce in Los Angeles, I took an opportunity to join the clinical care team with the prosthetic company that built my first prosthetic. In February of 2021 I moved Rascal and I back to my hometown of Salt Lake City and I’ve spent the last few years working with new amputees - coaching and educating them through the months following surgery. I love being able to show my patients that there is life after amputation. It has been the most rewarding work of my life.
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<div>My friend, Mason, introduced me to the sport of wheelchair fencing. He is also an amputee and he’s been my steadfast colleague. Together we have worked to build a program that empowers new amputees to take back ownership of their lives. He found the sport a couple of months previously and invited me to practice one night. I fell in love instantly.
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<div>Two months later I was competing in my first North American Cup in San Jose, CA, and brought home two bronze medals.
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/81663699_1722577541745396_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>A few months later I swept Bronze at the National Championships in Charlotte, NC.
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<div>Pretty soon I was getting attention from the National Coaches and was invited to attend a camp and a World Cup in Warsaw, Poland. Less than a year after my first practice I brought home a Silver Medal in Foil at the 2022 Americas Zonal Championships in São Paulo, Brazil.
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<div>Since then I have traveled the world and competed at World Cups and the World Championships.
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<div>As a fun ode to keeping a foot in the arts, I starred in a commercial - we shot literally the day before I flew to Warsaw for the 2023 World Cup
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<div><a href="https://youtu.be/v25b0GAtGHE?si=bzg79pkQBAjHKRB7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IH - the power of we</a>
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<div>In April 2024, I swept Gold in all three men’s events becoming the Men’s Wheelchair Fencing All-Weapon National Champion. It was even more special as the event was hosted in my hometown and my family was able to attend.
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<div>Most recently I brought home the Gold Medal at our 2024 Americas Zonal Championship in São Paulo, Brazil, as well as a Bronze Medal in Foil. See the videos below!
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<div><a href="https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxoRKnO_rgjqAlExoLwVEahEO9dY6P0Ro9?si=GnUTdtMLOXzBPCt2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semifinal at the Americas Zonal Championship</a>
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<div><a href="https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxQxaVSnaffR2NQBnSH9J99Dqzzd3PCnNQ?si=qdMfm9n822mekdW1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My first international Gold</a>
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<div>We leave for Paris in about three weeks! This has been an incredible journey and I look forward to sharing in this experience with my teammates and family. With your help, this will be an unforgettable experience and hopefully a precursor for what’s to come in Los Angeles 2028!
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<div>Salud
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