Former US Army Sergeant Kari Miller lost both her legs when a car she was in was hit by a drunk driver while she was on leave from military duty in 1999. She discovered sitting volleyball after playing other wheelchair based sports including her favorite, wheelchair basketball. Through dedicated training and coaching, she made the US Paralympic Team. She started competing for the Paralympic Games in 2007 where she won a Silver Medal for her participation at the Sitting Volleyball Invitational. In 2008, she participated at the World Organization Volleyball for Disabled where she won a Bronze Medal and the same year got another Silver Medal for her participation at 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

During this time Kari began working for the US Paralympic Military program and was responsible for setting up the program for newly injured service members at Walter Reed, Bethesda naval, and Ft Belvoir facilities, with an emphasis on positive profile utilization (what the service member can do vs cant). In 2009, Miller was awarded as Paralympian of the Year. In 2010, she won a Silver Medal at the Parapan American Championship which was held in Colorado and the same year got a Gold Medal for another WOVD Championship. In 2011 and 2012 respectively she won three Gold Medals at ECVD Continental Cup, Parapan American Zonal Championship, and Volleyball Masters. She also got a 4th Silver Medal for her participation at 2012 Paralympic Games in London and ultimately a Gold Medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

Throughout her Paralympic career Kari has also worked with multiple services to create adaptive programing and events. Kari also created and ran the community programs US Airforce wounded ill and injured program. Kari has served as sitting volleyball coaches for both Army and Airforce sitting volleyball teams for the Wounded Ill and injured.

Paralympic Experience
• 2016: Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Gold)
• 2012: London Paralympic Games (Silver)
• 2008: Beijing Paralympic Games (Silver)
World Championship Experience
• 2010: WOVD Sitting Volleyball World Championships (Silver)
• 2006: Sitting Volleyball World Championships
Other Career Highlights
• 2016: World ParaVolley Intercontinental Cup (Gold); Exhibition tournament vs. Russia; Dutch Tournament (First)
• 2015: Parapan American Games (Gold)
• 2012: Volleyball Masters (Gold)
• 2011: Parapan American Zonal Championships (Gold)
• 2010: WOVD World Cup (Gold); Parapan American Championship (Gold)
• 2009: Parapan American Zonal Chapionship (Gold); Eurocup (Gold)
• 2008: WOVD Intercontinental Cup (Bronze)
• 2007: Sitting Volleyball Invitational (Silver)
Most Notable
• Member of the U.S. Women's Sitting Team named Team USA's 2016 "Best Paralympic Team"
• Head Coach Army Warrior Games Team "2012-13"
• Head Coach Air Force Warrior Games team "2014-15"
• Assistant Coach Invictus Team USA Sitting Volleyball "Gold Medal" 2016
• Started all 17 matches of both the London and Beijing Paralympics
• Named Best Receiver and Best Libero of the London Paralympics
• Named Best Libero of the 2011 ECVD Continental Cup
• Along with her teammates named, "Paralympians of the Year" for 2009
Did you know
• Kari is a U.S. Army veteran and earned the rank of Sergeant
• She became an amputee in 1999 when a drunk driver collided with the car she was traveling in
• In 2013, Kari was nominated for the USAA Athletic Inspiration Award
• She has since served as a community programs coordinator for the Air Force's Wound Ill and Injured program
• She was named a "Hero of Fortune" by Fortune Magazine, recognizing individuals who work for Fortune 500 companies
• Competed in wheelchair basketball before discovering sitting volleyball
• She competed in basketball and track in high school
• Currently started and coaches "Alamo Cit