From Struggle to Strength: The Journey of Rhonda Liddell
For Rhonda Liddell, a 100% disabled veteran and adaptive athlete, sports have been nothing short of life-changing. Introduced to World TEAM’s Face of America: Gettysburg in 2019 by fellow rider Gina Utteg, Rhonda found more than just a cycling event—she found a community, a purpose, and a renewed sense of strength.
Rhonda has now completed the Face of America ride six times, missing only one year due to the Covid pandemic. Each spring, she looks forward to the event as a cornerstone of her adaptive sports journey. What began as a physical challenge has evolved into a source of deep personal healing. Riding her recumbent trike, once a struggle, has become what she lovingly calls her “Meditation / Medication.”
“Cycling has strengthened my body and rejuvenated my mind and soul,” she shares.
The Face of America ride has given Rhonda more than miles on the road—it’s given her a team. Over the years, she’s built friendships with riders and mentors who offer encouragement, share advice, and inspire her to set new goals both on and off the bike. One of her proudest moments came when she completed the entire first leg of the Day One ride under her own power—a milestone that symbolized how far she’s come.
Cycling has also opened the door to new adventures. Rhonda is now a Para Skeleton athlete, a snowboarder, and even plays one-armed golf. She recently completed a 54-mile ride with 3,100 feet of elevation gain at 6,900 feet in Park City, Utah—and she’s already setting her sights on weeklong endurance rides.
But Rhonda’s powerful journey doesn’t just live in her accomplishments; it lives in her words. She captures the heart of her experience—and the experience of so many adaptive athletes—in her original poem, Tapestry of Triumph:
Tapestry of Triumph
A tapestry of triumph, their stories reveal.
In the realm of splendor, where warriors heal.
Adaptive sports, a balm for wounded souls,
Where newfound purpose, resolute goals.
A veteran, battle-scarred, yet ever bold,
Found solace in pursuits, a story yet untold.
Recumbent trikes, with wheels that set her free,
A vessel of liberation, dancing with glee.
Soaring on snow-capped peaks, a story untold.
A phoenix rising from ashes long grown cold,
Snowboarding, an art of grace and strife,
An orchestra of courage, embracing life.
And on the verdant greens, a new chapter unfolds,
Golf became her canvas, where tales were composed.
With friends by her side, camaraderie ignited,
Her heart, once shattered, now wholly united.
For in adaptive sports, a warrior finds reprieve,
An alchemy of strength, where spirits achieve.
Each endeavor a testament, a flicker in time,
That the human spirit, infinite, can truly climb.
Like the sun casting golden rays on a winter’s eve,
Adaptive sports, a symphony of hearts that believe.
From the depths of struggle, a phoenix shall rise,
Through souls made whole, hope begins to baptize.
— Rhonda M. Liddell
Why This Ride Matters
Rhonda’s story—and her poetry—remind us just how powerful adaptive sports can be. What started with a single ride has blossomed into a lifestyle of strength, community, and limitless possibility.
Every mile of Face of America represents more than a cycling challenge—it’s a celebration of inclusion, teamwork, and shared strength. Riders like Rhonda remind us why this mission matters
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