16 Months Post Losing Leg In Shark Attack, Swimmer Ali Truwit Wins 2 Paralympics Silvers

Swimmer Ali Truwit of the USA won a silver medal each in the Women's 100m Backstroke S10 and the 400m Freestyle S10 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. A few months ago, the 24-year-old experienced athlete was left wondering, "Would I ever be an athlete again?" but her determination led her to reclaim her passion for swimming and quickly relearn the sport as an amputee. A mere 16 months after her tragedy, she is standing tall on the Paralympic podium.

Setting US Record, Personal Best

On September 5, Ali Truwit set the American record in the 400m freestyle event as she swam 4:31.39 seconds to achieve glory. She finished behind Aurelie Rivard of Canada, who won gold, and Hungarian Bianka Pap, who won bronze.

“It’s a real full-circle moment and speaks to the support I have all around me,” Truwit told CNN. “When you are truly faced with death and you understand what a second chance at life means, you want to make the most of it.”

In the 100m backstroke event on September 6, she again set an American record as she clocked 1:08.59 seconds, which is also her personal best. According to reports, she swam the final almost a full second faster than her preliminary heat earlier in the day. She finished six-tenths behind Hungary's gold winner, Pap. Meanwhile, Emeline Pierre of France took the bronze.

Ali Truwit's Story

In May 2023, Ali Truwit and her friends were celebrating their upcoming graduation from Yale University in Turks and Caicos when the trip took a scary turn. The then-Division I swimmer was snorkelling when a shark bit off her left leg. "I knew immediately I was in a race against time," she recalled to Forbes.

Truwit and her friend acted immediately and swam about 70 metres back to the boat. "My priority was getting back to the boat before I lost consciousness," she said. Her friend, Sophie Pilkinton swiftly applied a tourniquet, saving her life. "In the blink of an eye, I became an amputee for life," Truwit said.

The path to recovery was physically and emotionally painful. Through this journey, Truwit was able to reflect on her life and achievements. "When you truly grasp how fragile life is... I chose to let that gratitude guide me." Her resilience pushed her to jump back into swimming in less than a month. 

Truwit went through prosthetic training, strength training, and trauma therapy to make a remarkable comeback. While her mentors assured her she would be ready to compete by the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, she asserted, "I'm not someone who waits," and set her eyes on the 2024 Paris Games.

Truwit set the American record at the Paralympics Trials in June 2024 and earned three gold medals, placing her in the world's top three para-swimmers. "It was exhilarating to feel so strong, capable, and competitive so early in my recovery," the athlete told Forbes. "I surprised even myself with my performance."

"I refused to let fear dictate my life. I was given a second chance, and I was determined to make the most of it." She added, "The more I worked at it, the flashbacks reduced and the pain lessened. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent my country and the Paralympics."