Skip to content
Warrior Games

Meleste Togia

Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Field
  • Birthplace

    HONOLULU, HI
  • Previous WG

    2023
  • Branch

    Army
  • Sport

    Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Field

Former Specialist (SPC) Melesete Togia, hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, found peace in the serene landscapes of her hometown, cherishing moments at the beach, in the gym, on hiking trails, and paddling canoes, often accompanied by her daughter. Baking became a shared joy, brightening the days of those around her. Melesete’s journey took an unexpected turn when she tested positive for COVID-19 on September 4, 2021, while deployed in Iraq, leading to a harrowing evacuation to Germany. Enduring a 20-day battle on life support, defying odds with over 10 revivals, Melesete’s resilience was tested. The aftermath reshaped her life entirely—her marriage dissolved, relationships fractured, and friendships faded. Yet, in the darkness, the Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) provided the essential care she needed, guiding her towards recovery. Participating in the Army Trials, she discovered a beacon of hope, resonating deeply with the stories of her fellow teammates, finding courage to confront her own challenges. It was at the Warrior Challenge 2023 where a transformative shift occurred, birthing a new mindset. Acknowledging the support of the Army Rehabilitation Program (ARP) gardening group for fostering a nurturing environment and the camaraderie of her gym companions who propelled her forward, Melesete draws strength from her faith, guided by the Quranic principle: “Nothing will happen to us, except what God has written for us.”

Other Teammates

Luis Avila

Archery | Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Field

Abel Baez

Archery | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Gerald Blakley

Precision Air Sports | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Steven Bortle

Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Field

Darnell Boynton

Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Field

John Michael Britton

Archery | Swimming | Track | Field

Gene Calantoc

Archery | Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Victoria Camire

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Track | Field

Berenice Carmona

Archery | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Field

Hyoshin “Gabi” Cha

Cycling | Swimming | Track | Field

Patrick Dayton

Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Swimming | Track

Nathan Degen

Archery | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Jeremy Ditlevson

Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Field

Henry Escobedo

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Field

Brent Garlic

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Corine Hamilton

Cycling | Powerlifting | Track | Field

Bianca Hayden

Archery | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Field

Matthew Hovey

Archery | Cycling | Precision Air Sports | Swimming

Brooke Jader

Cycling | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Field

Justin Lane

Archery | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Field

Shawn Lee

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Swimming | Field

Justin Mathers

Archery | Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Field

Jasmin McKenzie

Cycling | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Field

Alexis Pantoja

Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Field

Chris Parks

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Field

Jack Peko

Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Field

Jeffrey Peters

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Field

Adam Proctor

Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Field

Alexander Robison

Archery | Precision Air Sports | Track | Wheelchair Rugby

Victoria Rollin

Cycling | Swimming | Track

Noah Rydesky

Swimming | Track | Field

Avery Short

Cycling | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Rugby

Jason Smith

Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Noah Strunk

Cycling | Swimming | Track

Derrick Thompson

Archery | Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Sitting Volleyball | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Field

Janmiguel TorresCruz

Cycling | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Michael Villagran

Cycling | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Field

Anna Walker

Cycling | Swimming | Track

Hannah Wright

Archery | Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Field