For Ali Truwitt, the past 16 months have been a story of trauma, recovery and last night’s triumph.
In May 2023, just days after graduating from Yale University, the former Division I swimmer was attacked by a shark while snorkeling off the coast of Turks and Caicos. Truwitt fought off the shark, which bit off his ankle, and managed to swim 50-75 yards to a boat. After being transported by helicopter to a hospital, he underwent three surgeries, including surgery to amputate his left leg just below the knee. CNN reported.
Despite developing a (natural) fear of water (Trewitt told CNN she was conscious throughout the attack), she began competing in para swimming competitions last October. A few months later, she won a silver medal at the US Para Swimming Championships, and in June of this year, Qualified Towards the Paris Games.
And now, less than a year and a half after that life-changing attack, she’s one of the world’s top Paralympic swimmers: On Sept. 5, the 24-year-old won silver in the women’s S10 400-meter freestyle at the Paris 2024 Games. 4:31.39 seconds Set up A new American record(Canada’s Aurelie Rivard won the gold medal and Hungary’s Bianca Papp won the bronze medal.)
“This really is a full-circle moment and speaks to all the support that’s surrounding me,” Truewitt said. Spoke to the media “When you really face death and understand what a second chance at life means, you want to make the most of it,” he said after the race.
Although it may seem a short journey to an outsider, Truwitt’s journey to the Paralympic podium was not an easy one. Earlier this year, she He told US Para Swimming “Water and swimming have always been my number one love,” she says. But the shark attack further complicated that relationship. As she detailed to USA Para Swimming, she revealed the trauma of speed training in the pool, where she had to sprint for her life to a boat. She also had to relearn many aspects of the sport, including how to start from the blocks and rotate on one foot.
But over time, Truwitt has come to embrace non-linear progression.
“To be honest, at first I thought I’d just overcome my fear and that would be it,” she said after yesterday’s race. Guardian. “I’ve learned through this journey that this isn’t reality. There will be great days and there will be days where I have to fight to get my love back. But I feel really comfortable and happy in the water right now.”
Still smiling in his swimsuit and cap after yesterday’s race, Truewitt credited his parents with instilling the optimism and gratitude that has helped get him through the challenges of the past 16 months. “My parents raised me and my three siblings to be well-adjusted people, to see the good in life and to be grateful for everything we have,” said the Darien, Connecticut, native. Guardian“And when faced with life-changing trauma, I tried to see the positives, focused on gratitude, and let that guide me to adapt to the situation I was in.”
In that enthusiastic spirit, Truewitt yesterday posted her Instagram Stories A series of photos from the Paralympics. The caption? “The luckiest girl in the world.”
SELF is your go-to source for all things Paralympic – check out our coverage of the Paris Games here.
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