Amy Van Dyken, diagnosed with asthma as a child, defied medical odds by taking up swimming.
Amy Van Dyken, a name synonymous with swimming excellence, defied medical odds to clinch six Olympic gold medals. The story of Van Dyken from an asthmatic-ridden childhood to the topmost heights of athletic achievement in inspirational in true sense.
At 18 months old, Van Dyken was diagnosed with asthma. Her doctor prescribed swimming as part of her treatment. Little did she know that this decision would not only alleviate her symptoms but also ignite a latent swimming prowess.
The meteoric rise of Van Dyken reached its peak at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where she would literally carve her name in the annals of history to become the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
"My biggest memory of Atlanta is the 50m freestyle, my last race at those Games," recalls US swimmer Amy van Dyken. "I remember saying to myself: 'You know what? You've already got three golds and this is your best event. So go out there and have fun.' I was swimming next to the world record holder and world champion, and the last thing that went through my mind was: 'This is yours! Go and get it!'. When I touched the wall I exploded with joy."
During the 2000 Sydney Olympics, her ruling streak carried over as she racked up two more gold medals in her glory count.
In addition to her Olympic exploits, she also won three golds at the 1998 World Swimming Championships in Perth (AUS). She is married to ex-American football player Tom Rouen - formerly with Denver Broncos. After retiring from swimming and earning her place in Olympic and American sporting history she tried her hand at acting and also became a TV and radio presenter, according to The Official Olympics portal.
On June 6, 2014, Van Dyken was injured in a serious ATV accident that severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
From a child battling a chronic illness to an Olympic champion, Van Dyken's journey inspires hope in athletes and those who face adversities.