Full Name
Victoria Arlen
Job Title
Motivational Speaker, ESPN Host & Reporter, Paralympic Gold Medalist & World Record Holder, Dancing with the Stars Semi-finalist, and Author
Speaker Bio
In 2005, Victoria was 11 years old when she came down with two rare neurological disorders, Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. She fought for her life for five years, including four years in a vegetative state where she was ‘locked’ within herself, unable to communicate with those around her. At times, she suffered seizures for more than 20 hours per day. She was paralyzed from the waist down for a decade and incredibly, regained the ability to walk in 2016.
A lifelong swimmer and athlete, despite her illness, Victoria never gave up her childhood dream of competing in the Olympics Games.
In June of 2010, she returned to the pool for the first time in over ten years. Two years later, she qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic Games in four different events.There she won a Gold Medal, setting a World Record, and three Silver Medals.
Not long after the Paralympics,Victoria realized another dream,becoming one of the youngeston-air hosts every hired by ESPN.
Today, she reports for numerousESPN programs including X-Games, Invictus Games, TheESPY Awards, espnW, FrozenFour, Special Olympics WorldGames andSportscenter.
After emerging from four years in avegetative state, Victoria remained confined to a wheelchair for ten years.
Determined to walk, she began a ggressive activity based paralysis recovery therapy at Project Walk San Diego.Later, her family opened Project Walk Boston, and there, after two years of therapy, she took her first unassisted step on a long and remarkable road to recovery.
One year after taking her first step, Victoria was back. In thefall of 2017, she competed on Dancing With The Stars fo rnine weeks and was eventually a semi-finalist.
During the show, her incredible story was seen and heard by millions,including appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in People Magazine,and in hundreds of other mediaoutlets across the country.
A lifelong swimmer and athlete, despite her illness, Victoria never gave up her childhood dream of competing in the Olympics Games.
In June of 2010, she returned to the pool for the first time in over ten years. Two years later, she qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic Games in four different events.There she won a Gold Medal, setting a World Record, and three Silver Medals.
Not long after the Paralympics,Victoria realized another dream,becoming one of the youngeston-air hosts every hired by ESPN.
Today, she reports for numerousESPN programs including X-Games, Invictus Games, TheESPY Awards, espnW, FrozenFour, Special Olympics WorldGames andSportscenter.
After emerging from four years in avegetative state, Victoria remained confined to a wheelchair for ten years.
Determined to walk, she began a ggressive activity based paralysis recovery therapy at Project Walk San Diego.Later, her family opened Project Walk Boston, and there, after two years of therapy, she took her first unassisted step on a long and remarkable road to recovery.
One year after taking her first step, Victoria was back. In thefall of 2017, she competed on Dancing With The Stars fo rnine weeks and was eventually a semi-finalist.
During the show, her incredible story was seen and heard by millions,including appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in People Magazine,and in hundreds of other mediaoutlets across the country.
Speaking At
