Joanna Cornett Dunn
2008
Even as a child, Joanna’s athletic abilities were obvious. Although a horseback riding accident as a young girl left her with paraplegia, it did not diminish her determination or love of sport. Her journey took her to the University of Illinois, where she became an Illini Ms. Kidd, was introduced to many wheelchair sports, and earned a master’s degree in sociology. Her favorite sports—and the ones in which she excelled—were swimming, archery, and track, particularly the pentathlon.
After college, Joanna moved to Ridgecrest, California, where she worked as a counselor at the Desert Counseling Center, all while engaging in regional, national, and international competitions. She was also an instructor at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest and eventually moved to Glide, Oregon. She was a gifted counselor, leader, and teacher, leading Bible studies, home groups, and seminars.
Joanna’s first foray into international competition was at the Stoke Mandeville Games in England in 1967. She then broke four national records in swimming and archery at the 1969 National Wheelchair Games and was named the Jack Gearhardt Award recipient as the Outstanding Female Athlete in the United States for that year. She also took gold in the pentathlon competition at the 1967 Stoke Mandeville Games.
Joanna was a member of Team USA at the 1968 Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, Israel, representing her country with honor. She won bronze medals in the pentathlon, slalom, 60 meters, and archery, while in swimming she won a silver medal in the 25-meter freestyle and a bronze medal in the 25-meter backstroke.
Joanna took her Christian faith with her wherever she went for competitions. Her counseling skills provided hope for the depressed, peace for the anxious, and comfort for the suffering. Joanna wrote two books that chronicled her life, her sports career, and her love for God and people.