Name: Trenten Merrill
Sport: Track and Field
Event(s): Long Jump, 4x100-meter relay
Classification: T64
Height: 5-11
DOB: 5/18/1990
Birthplace: Orange County, Calif.
Hometown: San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
High School: Capistrano Valley High school (Mission Viejo, Calif.) ‘08
College: Saddleback College; Azusa Pacific University ’15, Applied Exercise Science
Coach(es): Jeremy Fischer
Paralympic Experience
- Two-time Paralympian (2016, 2020); One-time Paralympic medalist (1 bronze)
- Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, bronze (long jump)
- Paralympic Games Rio 2016, 4th (long jump)
World Championship Experience
- Most recent: 2019 – 5th (long jump)
- Years of Participation: 2015, 2019
- Medals: 1 (1 silver)
- Silver – 2015 (4x100-meter relay)
Personal:
Grew up in Southern California, where he could be found surfing, playing soccer, and riding dirt bikes...While riding as a passenger on his friend’s dirt bike, a car struck them, injuring them both...That accident led to the amputation of Merrill’s right leg, just below his knee...He then went under the care of his first prosthetist, Gary Yamamoto, who encouraged him to attend an Össur Challenged Athletes Foundation sponsored running clinic for athletes...As a result of attending that clinic, he decided to pursue a career as a track and field athlete...After participating on the track and field teams at Saddleback College and Azusa Pacific University, he made his Team USA debut at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships...Has been previously coached by Gary Cablayan, Dan Pfaff, and Nic Taylor...His current coach is Jeremy Fischer...Merrill has worked with prosthetists Gary Yamamoto, Mike Pack and currently works with Francois Van Der Watt ...Trenten is currently the American record holder in long jump for his classification and a member of Team Össur...Enjoys coffee, reading, surfing, 4x4 off-roading, and camping....Ambition: Winning gold medals for Team USA and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. ...His hero is his grandfather Bob Merrill.
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