Heroes in real life don't wear masks and capes. Sometimes they don't stand out at all. But real heroes can save a life - or many lives - just by answering the call in their heart.
— Victoria Arlen
My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.
I come from a family of go-getters.
We're a huge hockey family. I took to it really quickly, and I was in love with it.
If mornings aren't your thing right now, try making yourself do a happy dance after you get out of bed. It helps me!
I'm a firm believer that every morning brings a new opportunity for me to conquer the day.
I think there's a lot of people going through different things where you feel like your whole world's imploded, and you feel like you lost it all, whether it's physical, emotional, whatever you're going through. If I can be that beacon of hope for people that need it the most through dancing and through our storytelling, then I've done my job.
When I was really sick, I loved watching 'Dancing With the Stars.'
'Thank you' is never enough for me to say to my family.
Winning gold and three silver medals at the Paralympic games is something I'll never forget, but I knew deep down there was still more work to do. I had to continue to redefine what was possible and get back everything that was taken away from me.
I was written off as a lost cause. But I'm living proof that miracles can happen.
It's such a tremendous honor to redefine what is possible and inspire people. I just want to do that as long as possible.
I love to smile, even through pain.
The climb might be tough and challenging,but the view is worth it. There is a purpose for that pain; you just can't always see it right away.
When I was 10 years old, 'Dancing with the Stars' premiered, and I told my mom, 'I'm going to be on that show one day.'
I grew up doing tap, jazz, and ballet, so I understand rhythm and movement and performing.
At some points, hope was the only thing I had. When I began my journey toward walking again, I clung to hope like a life raft.
It's important to believe in yourself and the beauty of your dreams and to not let anyone tell you different.
ESPN truly is a game changer and has the ability to unite the world through sports, which is something I'm incredibly passionate about.
Live life to the fullest no matter what.
I thought my sports career was over once I got into a wheelchair. That was the hardest reality I had to face.
Each of us can provide a positive example to others in our lives, and that's powerful. When I visit those with difficult health conditions, I do my best to provide them with positive motivation because I know I was so inspired by people who showed support for me.
'Good Life' was my gold-medal song and is what I sing when I need to get focused and keep calm. It also just makes me super happy, and I love jamming out.
I know from my experience as a swimmer that you put in the work and practice, and come game day, your body is ready, and you just have to trust your training.
There's nothing greater than just having people that pick you up when you get knocked down.
I'm an athlete, I'm a competitor, so whenever you have a loss, you feel it in your heart.
I will use my voice to change the world, spreading hope, spreading love, and spreading life, 'cause the world needs that. That's enough for me.
My swim coach was very tough on me, and I respond well to that training... being pushed to my limit.
Who doesn't like to get dressed up and eat good food?
I'm honored to be a part of the #ShowEm campaign because it recognizes the importance of who we are at our core and what drives us to become who we want to be, no matter what obstacles we face. Jockey has given me a platform to show people that the impossible can be possible if you keep fighting and believing.
The moment when you feel like giving up is right before your breakthrough.
It's been a reality check that my muscles are still really affected by my spinal cord injury, but it's also been super empowering to see how much I'm capable of.
I have these big brown eyes, so ever since I was a baby, you could tell what I was feeling and thinking based on my eyes.
When my doctors said I would never walk, I didn't believe them. I knew I wasn't meant to spend my life in a chair.
A disability can be anything that you are insecure about, and I teach people that when challenges come your way, you need to face them, you need to embrace these new norms and these challenges, and you need to defy them and conquer them.
We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them, and conquer them.
There's always going to be something positive that can come out of any negative situation.
I was determined to get back to my life. I had to relearn how to do everything. I had to learn how to talk, eat, move my arms.
Since my days get crazy, I am in love with almonds - you'll always find them in my bag!
Being competitive is in my nature. I actually think being competitive saved my life. It's given me the constant drive to be better, and when I was in that hospital bed and that wheelchair, it made me want to get better.
It's actually more work for me to not smile than to smile.
I was bullied in high school. I would go through the hallways and be pointed at and laughed at because I was the new kid in a wheelchair.
I made it to the top five on 'Dancing with the Stars.' To me, that was just a tremendous accomplishment.
While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.
The traditional tango is really staccato, but with the Argentine tango, you have to be really sexy and saucy.
When you have a spinal or brain injury, or any kind of devastating illness, you kind of fall through the cracks in a sense. Your world implodes, and no one is really there to help pick up the pieces.
Every time I dance, it's a tremendous blessing, and I just can't forget that.
When I was 11 years old, I got very sick and slipped into a vegetative state for four years and was pretty much written off as a lost cause.
You know that feeling when your leg falls asleep and you can't really feel it or move it? Well, that's what my legs feel like all the time, so being fluid and graceful has been difficult.
Growing up, I was a water baby. We lived near a lake, had a pool in our backyard, and as soon as I was old enough, I joined a swim team. By 10, I was winning local events.
