Abby Dunkin (born May 10, 1995) is an American wheelchair basketball player who has competed for the United States women’s national team at the Paralympic Games and other international tournaments. She is a gold‑medalist from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and a bronze‑medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Early life and education
Dunkin was born in Dayton, Ohio. At age twelve, she was involved in a motor‑vehicle accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, leaving her with paraplegia. She later attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where she played for the UT Arlington Mavericks wheelchair‑basketball program while completing a degree in kinesiology.
Wheelchair‑basketball career
Dunkin began playing wheelchair basketball competitively in her teenage years. She joined the United States women’s national team and made her international debut at the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, where the U.S. team secured a gold medal. She was a member of the squad that won gold at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Subsequent appearances include the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship, where the United States finished fourth, and the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo (held in 2021), where the team earned a bronze medal.
Other activities
In addition to her athletic career, Dunkin has taken part in public speaking engagements and advocacy work related to adaptive sports and disability inclusion. She has also been featured in media profiles highlighting her experiences as a Paralympic athlete.
Recognition
Dunkin’s contributions to wheelchair basketball have been acknowledged through various honors, including inclusion in Team USA’s roster for successive major international competitions and recognition from sports organizations promoting adaptive athletics.