Introduction
Cassie Mitchell (born June 8, 1981) is an American engineer and Paralympic cyclist and track and field athlete.
Early life
Mitchell was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and graduated from high school in Warner in 1999 as valedictorian of her class; shortly thereafter, she developed neuromyelitis optica, which left her paralyzed from the chest down with limited movement of her arms and hands and with permanent double vision. In 2004, she graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS degree in chemical engineering. She later earned a PhD in biomedical engineering from both Emory and Georgia Tech universities. Currently, she is a research professor at Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at both universities.
Paralympic career
Mitchell won a silver medal at the 2011 IPC World Championships and the same year won five gold medals at the UCI World Para-cycling Championships and National Para-cycling Championships. In 2010, she won the national Para-cycling Championships for H1 criterium. She holds American and world records in multiple track and field events and medaled in discus throw and club throw at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. She placed fourth in the 100 m, 200 m and discus throw at the 2012 Paralympics.