What Happened to Amy Van Dyken? Injury & Paralysis Explained

Amy Van Dyken, a celebrated Olympic gold medalist, experienced a life-altering event that shocked the world. Known for her incredible achievements in swimming, Van Dyken faced a sudden and dramatic turn in her life due to a severe accident. Now, fans want to know more about Amy Van Dyken’s health and her journey to recovery.

Here is everything to know about Amy Van Dyken’s accident and injury.

How did Amy Van Dyken get injured and paralyzed?

Amy Van Dyken suffered from a spinal cord injury after an ATV accident.

Amy Van Dyken faced a life-altering event in June 2014 when she was involved in a severe ATV accident. While riding in Arizona, Van Dyken’s ATV hit a curb, causing her to be thrown over an embankment. Her husband, Tom Rouen, a former Denver Broncos punter, discovered her lying face down and unresponsive. She was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors revealed that she had severed her spinal cord and was paralyzed from the waist down.

The injuries were so critical that she was advised to say her goodbyes to her husband before undergoing emergency surgery. Remarkably, Van Dyken survived the operation and began her long road to recovery. After spending two weeks in initial recovery, she was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Denver.

In a 2014 interview with TODAY, Amy Van Dyken-Rouen candidly discussed her severe ATV accident and the challenging recovery journey. Despite the life-altering injuries she sustained, Van Dyken expressed unwavering determination and courage. The Olympic winner stated that she is “not afraid” of the difficult path to recovery. “This is a new challenge, and I’m taking it head-on. This is more than just for a gold medal, this is for my life; our life. And so, I’m here and I’m working as hard as I can for that.”

Furthermore, Van Dyken encourages those who see her in a wheelchair not to feel pity. As per ABC News, she said, “Look at people who are paralyzed and doing things for themselves as superheroes because in order to get where they are, they had to basically train like an Olympian. I would know.”