Ali Truwit didn't know if she would survive. Shortly after graduating from Yale, where she was a competitive swimmer, she was on vacation when she was attacked by a shark. Thanks to her incredible strength and the quick actions of her friends—one of whom applied a life-saving tourniquet—Ali survived, though she lost her lower leg in the attack. And now? She's a two-time Paralympic silver medalist and amputee who has turned a senseless tragedy into a powerful mission of hope.

Ali shares her remarkable journey of recovery, from the early days of facing a debilitating fear of water to becoming an American record holder and medaling at the Paris Paralympics. We discuss everything from the power of community and support systems to the "stronger than you think" philosophy that led to the creation of her nonprofit and documentary.

IN THIS EPISODE

• The emotional experience of running the NYC Marathon with her support system
• The details of the shark attack and the heroic actions of her friend, Sophie
• Learning to find hope and joy after trauma
• The "permission to feel and intention to reset" strategy
• Redefining what's possible in a "new body"
• The mission behind her nonprofit, Stronger Than You Think
• Representing the Paralympic movement in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and in her work as a Nike athlete

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

On Mindset and Resilience

• "The message that we're stronger than we think is for everyone. We all go through hard times and trauma and hardship and I think that message that you have more in you is something that I hope everyone sees."
• "If you ask 'why me?' ... make sure you're asking it in both directions."
• "Our fears and our feelings are not facts."

On the Power of Community

• "Community really is so important. I think about my journey as a testament to the power of community and support."
• "There really is no wrong form of support. Whatever you have to give, whenever you have to give it, matters and moves the person forward."

On Growth and New Beginnings

• "I'm swimming faster than I ever swam in certain events with two legs. It's a message to myself of what is still possible for me in this new body."
• "I can take this bad, senseless trauma that happened to me and use it for good."
• "It's just as likely that things can go better than you expect than it is that they might not go well at all."

SOCIAL

@alitruwit
@strongerthanyouthink
@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.