Abby Dunn grew up in Susanville, a small ranch community in northern California, where childhood revolved around school, animals, and sports. She raised pigs with her family and spent her free time playing basketball, soccer, softball, cross-country, and her favorite—gymnastics. Her dream was to one day compete as a gymnast at the Olympics.

That dream shifted unexpectedly on October 28, 2016, when Abby was 12 years old. What started as back pain during school turned into something far more serious. By evening, she felt numbness spreading through her hips and legs. Within hours, she was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in Sacramento, where she stayed for 36 days.

Doctors diagnosed her with Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), a rare neurological condition with polio-like symptoms that causes sudden muscle weakness and paralysis. For Abby, it meant life in a wheelchair from that moment forward.

Discovering Adaptive Sports

As Abby adjusted to her paralysis, she turned quickly back to sport. Just months after leaving the hospital, she picked up a basketball again—this time from a chair. Soon after, she attended her first wheelchair sports camp in Chico, California, where she discovered wheelchair racing and other adaptive sports.

She started competing with the Sacramento Royals, an adaptive basketball team located four hours from her hometown. At first, she felt intimidated by the older and more skilled players, but the challenge only motivated her. Surrounded by athletes who pushed her, Abby committed herself to training and improvement.

Support From CAF

In 2019, Abby received a Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) grant for a racing chair. That equipment opened a new avenue: track and field. With support from CAF’s High School Adaptive Sports Programs, she attended clinics and training sessions that sharpened her skills and gave her the confidence to compete at higher levels.

For Abby, the grant was more than a piece of equipment—it was a stepping stone to pursuing her athletic potential. CAF’s role helped her stay connected to competition and prepared her for the opportunities ahead.

College Career at Arizona

Abby’s dedication paid off in high school. As the only student in a wheelchair at Lassen High School, she often faced accessibility challenges—sometimes classmates would even lift her over steps so she could get to class. But she stayed focused, balancing academics with a growing schedule of wheelchair racing and basketball.

Her hard work earned her a full-ride scholarship to the University of Arizona, home to one of the nation’s top collegiate adaptive athletics programs. The decision was an easy one: Arizona not only offered elite-level basketball and track opportunities but also a campus community where other students used wheelchairs.

“At Arizona, I don’t feel out of place,” Abby said in a student spotlight. “All of my friends are in chairs.”

Now in her junior year, Abby has become a leader on the women’s wheelchair basketball team. In 2023, she was named team captain, a role she embraces by supporting her teammates and celebrating their progress.

International Success

Abby’s career has already taken her to the global stage. In October 2023, she traveled to Thailand with the U.S. Women’s Under-25 Wheelchair Basketball Team. Out of 10 competing countries, Team USA came out on top, winning the world championship.

That wasn’t her only international success. Abby also competes in seated waterskiing, where she claimed gold in women’s seated trick and set a world record. These achievements show the depth of her talent across multiple sports and highlight her determination to keep growing as an athlete.

From Paralysis to Paralympic Goals

At just 20 years old, Abby has already built a résumé that includes a world title, a world record, and leadership on one of the nation’s premier collegiate teams. But her sights are set even higher: she wants to compete at the Paralympic Games.

When she first became injured, Abby thought she might recover fully like some AFM patients do. When it became clear that her condition was permanent, she decided to approach it with the same drive she once carried for gymnastics: “If I was gonna be in a wheelchair, I was gonna make the most out of it.”

That mindset continues to guide her career today.

Building Belonging Through Sport

Abby often reflects on how sports helped her navigate the transition from middle school to high school and eventually college. As a teenager, she sometimes felt isolated in a small town with limited resources for students with disabilities. At Arizona, things are different. With a community of peers, teammates, and coaches who understand her experiences, she has found a place where belonging is part of daily life.

It’s this sense of community that she hopes to carry forward—not just for herself, but for other young athletes finding their way into adaptive sports.

Be Part of the Movement

Abby Dunn’s journey—from gymnastics in a small California town to a world champion and Paralympic hopeful—shows what happens when access meets determination. With support from family, coaches, teammates, and CAF, she has transformed obstacles into new pathways for success.

Every athlete deserves the chance to discover their potential. You can help make that possible—by volunteering, supporting CAF programs, or sharing stories like Abby’s to ensure more athletes have the opportunities they need to thrive.