The 24-year-old athletic woman had broken up with her 30-year-old boyfriend and moved on to dating someone else. Two weeks after the break-up, the new boyfriend was staying over with the young woman when her jealous ex-boyfriend broke into her place and attacked the couple.
She thought he’d killed her. The ex-boyfriend shot the new boyfriend in the face and head with a pellet gun, then stabbed him in the back. He shot the young woman in her eye, back and genitals, stabbed her in the back severing her spinal cord, and sexually assaulted her with the pellet gun while he shot it inside her. No doubt, her last thought was about death.
The ex-boyfriend pleaded guilty to all charges—burglary with assault, first-degree attempted murder, sexual battery, and aggravated bodily harm. A judge sentenced him to 40 years in state prison.
The young woman survived. Her new boyfriend also survived. Despite losing her eye and being paralyzed, she remains full of life. Five years later, her boyfriend and she are still together.
“What happened to me was horrible, but you can choose to give up or play your best hand with what has been dealt.” -Tracy Otto, domestic violence survivor
Hers is a story of resilience and drive. She’d never shot a bow and arrow, but she still had an athlete within her. She signed up for an adaptive sports program where she learned to shoot archery. Unable to fully grip her coach designed an attachment that she could bite to let loose of the arrow.
Two years after her training began and several bow designs later, she entered her first competition and placed ninth. Since then, she consistently wins gold medals in her competitions.
“Her true grit is what got her to where she is today.” Coach Brown
Her personal goal to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympics has come true. Her boyfriend will travel to Paris with her as he is her arrow agent. The Para Archery competition begins August 29, 2024. Medals are awarded August 31, 2024 – September 5, 2024. Checkout her Facebook Page for her incredible story and Paralympics updates: TRACY OTTO
Source: Florida Department of Corrections, Paris 2024 Olympics, New York Post, Plant City Observer, Wikipedia
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