Jessica Galli

{{short description|American wheelchair racer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|December 1, 1983}}

| birth_place =

| height =

| sport = Para athletics

| event = Wheelchair racing

| disability_class = T53

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Women's para athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}

{{Medal|Competition|Paralympic Games}}

{{Medal|Gold| 2008 Beijing | 400 m T53}}

{{Medal|Silver| 2000 Sydney | 800 m T53}}

{{Medal|Silver| 2008 Beijing | 100 m T53}}

{{Medal|Silver| 2008 Beijing | 200 m T53}}

{{Medal|Silver| 2008 Beijing | 800 m T53}}

{{Medal|Bronze| 2008 Beijing | 4×100 m T53–T54}}

{{Medal|Bronze| 2012 London | 800 m T53}}

}}

Jessica Galli (born December 1, 1983) is a female wheelchair racing athlete. Raised in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, Galli has participated in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Paralympic Games. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games she won the silver medal in the 800 meter T53 female wheelchair race. Galli set a world record holder in the T53 400 m race with a time of 55.82 at the 2007 European Wheelchair Championships on June 7 in Pratteln, Switzerland.{{cite web|title=Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Athletics Women's 800 m T53 |url=http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/600975efad23ab78872565410013e138/dc2d2b96d0947e61852572f8007a2ee9?OpenDocument |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |accessdate=2009-07-26 |date=2007-06-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928062017/http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/600975efad23ab78872565410013e138/dc2d2b96d0947e61852572f8007a2ee9?OpenDocument |archivedate=September 28, 2007 }}

In January 2008, she was named the United States Olympic Committee's 2007 Paralympian of the Year.{{cite web |title= U.S. PARALYMPICS: Jessica Galli Selected as 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympian of the Year |url=http://usparalympics.org/news/article/1787|publisher=US Paralympics|accessdate=2009-07-26|date=2008-01-18}} That summer, Galli was nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete With A Disability.{{cite news|title=Nominees for the 2008 ESPY Awards announced |url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/sports/2008/7/5/28557/Nominees-for-the-2008ESPYAwards-announced |newspaper=Dominican Today |accessdate=2009-07-26 |date=2008-07-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121153858/http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/sports/2008/7/5/28557/Nominees-for-the-2008ESPYAwards-announced |archivedate=2008-11-21 }} At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in September, she won five medals: 1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze.{{cite web|title=Athlete Biography GALLI Jessica |url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/BIO/Athlete/4/1200784.shtml |publisher=Beijing 2008 Official Website |accessdate=2009-07-26 |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919063258/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/BIO/Athlete/4/1200784.shtml |archivedate=2008-09-19 }}

Galli is a paraplegic as a result of a September 1991 car accident when she was 7 years old.{{cite web |title= Athlete Profile: Jessica Galli |url=http://usparalympics.org/athlete/athlete/1653|publisher=US Paralympics|accessdate=2009-07-26}} She became involved in Paralympic Sports by joining the Children's Lightning Wheels PSC at the recommendation of a recreational therapist at Children's Specialized Hospital, where she underwent rehabilitation.{{cite web |title= Jessica Galli: How I became a Paralympian |url=https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/June/03/Jessica-Galli-How-I-became-a-Paralympian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106220929/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/June/03/Jessica-Galli-How-I-became-a-Paralympian|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2014|accessdate=2020-04-05}}