17-Year-Old Paralympic Swimmer Victoria Arlen -- 3 Years Ago, Not Sure She'd Be Alive Today

6 years ago, now 17-year-old Victoria Arlen became completely paralyzed due to undiagnosed spinal inflammation. For three years beginning in 2007, Victoria was left in an uncommunicative, vegetative state in which medical professionals were unsure she would even live. Doctors discovered and treated her spinal condition in 2009 and Arlen 'came back to life,' however, she never regained her ability to walk.

What she did gain was a love of the water. Arlen entered a swimming pool in 2010 and just two short years later, the Exeter (NH) High School senior has set world marks in the women's 400-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle (besting British paralympic swimming phenom Eleanor Simmonds' top marks in both events.)

2012? Victoria Arlen will be heading to London for the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics on Aug. 29...and then competing.



"I managed to prove them all wrong because I was determined to live."

What do you have planned for today?

h/t reader Lori H.

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