Victoria Arlen’s life drastically changed in 2006 at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. This was an incredibly rare scenario and Victoria quickly lost the ability to speak, eat, walk and move. She slipped into a vegetative state in which doctors had written her off as a lost cause. Victoria spent nearly four years "locked" inside her own body completely aware of what was going on just unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope of survival and recovery was unlikely. Victoria however, was not ready to give up. In 2010 after almost four years she began the nearly impossible fight back to life. Learning how to speak, eat and move all over again. Although she faced the devastating reality of paralysis from the waist down due to damage to her spine. She went on to exceedingly defy the odds and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished Motivational Speaker, Actress, Model, and Swimmer.
In 2012 Victoria represented Team USA at the Paralympic Games in London in swimming. She came home with four medals, one gold and three silvers. She is a 3-time World Record holder and a 12-time American Record holder. Since the London Paralympic Games Victoria has transitioned to a career in television broadcasting and is now a rising young on air-talent with ESPN where this summer she was one of the lead commentators for the networks coverage of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. Victoria is also an experienced motivational speaker who has been featured by TEDx and numerous fortune 500 companies across the country.
