Otto began practicing para-archery in March 2021.[1]
Otto made her international debut for the United States at the 2023 World Para Archery Championships where she finished in ninth place.[2] In November 2023 she represented the United States at the 2023 Parapan American Games where she won a gold medal in the individual W1 event.[3][4] She then competed at the 2024 Para Pan American Championships in April 2024 and won a gold medal in the mixed team W1 with Jason Tabansky, and a gold medal in the individual W1 event.[5][6][7]
Otto finished eighth in the Paralympic women's individual W1 event.[10] She again competed with Jason Tabansky in the Paralympic mixed team W1 event, where the duo finished sixth.[11]
Otto is from Florida. Before October 2019, Otto was an "aspiring fitness model".[1]
On October 24, 2019, Otto's ex-boyfriend, Francpiero Del Medico, broke into her home and attacked Otto and her new boyfriend, Rick Riessle. Riessle was shot eight times with a pellet gun and stabbed in the back puncturing his lung.[13] Otto was shot five times and stabbed in the back of the neck. One pellet so severely damaged her left eye, surgeons had to remove it. He also shot a pellet down her throat, and sexually assaulted her with the weapon while firing it as he did.[14][15] As a result of the attack, Otto was left paralyzed from the chest down, making her a C5 quadriplegic. She uses a wheelchair.[1]
Following her rehabilitation, Otto's family placed her in a nursing home in Chicago.[16] Riessle brought Otto back to Florida,[16] where he is now her full-time caregiver and arrow agent.[17][18] In September 2024, Otto announced her engagement to Riessle and that she was pregnant, with her due date in January.[19][12]
Awards
In December 2024, Tracy Otto was included on the BBC's 100 Women list.[20]
