| Nicknames |
Roxie (Facebook profile, 09 Jan 2018) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning three medals [two gold, one bronze] at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 29 Oct 2021, 03 Sep 2021) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Sometimes life gives your plans little detours. If you're willing to take the detour, it might just take you to a place where you can do amazing things." (roxannetrunnell.com, 06 Jun 2014) |
| Awards and honours |
In 2021 she was named Grade I Para Dressage Rider of the Year by the United States Dressage Federation [USDF]. (Instagram profile, 05 Dec 2021; usdf.org, 01 Dec 2021)
She received the 2021 Whitney Stone Cup from the United States Equestrian Team [USET] Foundation. She was the first Para dressage rider to win the award, which is given annually to a rider who consistently excels at international events and becomes an ambassador to the sport through their conduct and contributions. (uset.org, 18 Jan 2021) |
| Other sports |
Before her impairment she competed in non-Para dressage at an elite level. (roxannetrunnell.com, 06 Jun 2014) |
| Ambitions |
To win gold at the Paralympic Games. (Instagram profile, 29 Oct 2021) |
| Impairment |
In 2009 she contracted the H1N1 virus [swine flu], which caused her brain to swell and she fell into a coma. The illness caused a blood clot in her brain and means she now uses a wheelchair. (fei.org, 03 Sep 2021; roxannetrunnell.com, 06 Jun 2014) |
| Other information |
FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2012 she graduated with a master's degree in psychology from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN, United States of America. (teamusa.org, 31 Dec 2016)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She sells custom-made embroidery products through her business Roxifi Embroidery. "Anything I can get a needle through can be embroidered." (Facebook profile, 16 Jun 2021; Instagram profile, 24 Jun 2021)
TATOOS
She has 10 tattoos on her body, including four tattoos of different warmblood horse breed brands. "When I was 18 I decided that if these warmbloods are going to get branded, then I would get branded." (Facebook profile, 16 Jun 2021; Instagram profile, 24 Jun 2021)
SWITCH TO PARA DRESSAGE
After her illness she was initially determined to continue competing in non-Para dressage before her coach convinced her to try Para dressage. "I was very against Para dressage. As far as I was concerned, I was going to ride my horse in able-bodied dressage and I wouldn't even hear about para. Of course, I know now that our Para dressage tests are just as difficult as any able-bodied one. Becoming a Para dressage rider in a way opened my eyes to the fact that even if things become a little different than the usual 'normal', you can still find a way to do them and be successful." (fei.org, 07 Jul 2021)
RIDING AS THERAPY
"Riding has hugely helped me, not only for the physical aspect of it but more mentally." (Paralympic.org, 22 August 2024) |
FEI Database
www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-trunnell-61527115b 
www.facebook.com/ParaEquestrianRoxie 
twitter.com/ParaRiderRoxie 
instagram.com/pararoxie 
