Monique Burkland


Monique Marie Burkland is an American Paralympic volleyballist.

Early life

Burkland was born in Reno, Nevada. She graduated from Plainview High School in 2008 where she used to be all-state softball player. There, she also did track and basketball. While being employed on a summer job, she lost her leg in a forklift accident. Since then, she has joined the USA sitting volleyball team and trains at the University of Central Oklahoma. On May 2, 2016 she married her husband of almost five years Landon Matthews in Oklahoma City.

Career

She started competing for Paralympic Games in 2010 where she won a silver medal for her participation at World Organization Volleyball for Disabled. In 2011 and 2012 respectively she won three gold medals at ECVD Continental Cup which was held in Yevpatoria, Ukraine, Parapan American Zonal Championship of São Paulo, Brazil and Volleyball Masters. She won a silver medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, and a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games. in Rio de Janeiro
She was part of the USA team which won the gold at 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, Canada.