Victoria Arlen, Disability Advocate — Miracle of Mobililty Live
Join Free Wheelchair Mission for our 17th annual event—Miracle of Mobility Live
This year’s one-of-a-kind, virtual event benefits our work in providing much-needed wheelchairs and medical supplies to the communities we serve around the world—communities that can be most at-risk when natural disasters or pandemics strike.
Victoria Arlen is a special guest at Miracle of Mobility Live.
Her life changed drastically at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis and quickly slipped into a minimally-conscious state.
For the next four years, she was "locked" inside her own body — completely aware of what was going on, but unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope of survival and recovery. Victoria, however, was not ready to give up. In 2010, she began the nearly impossible fight back to life, learning how to speak, eat, and move all over again.
Victoria has gone on to exceedingly defy the odds. She not only fully recovered but has gone on to become an accomplished motivational speaker, actress, model, and swimmer. Her swimming resume includes three silvers and a gold medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as multiple world, American, and pan-American records.
In April 2015, Victoria made the transition from professional athlete to sportscaster and joined ESPN as one of the youngest on-air talents hired by the company, reporting and hosting for various platforms. More recently, Victoria defied the odds yet again: after spending nearly a decade in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down, she was able to relearn how to walk.
In the Fall of 2017, Victoria learned to dance as a contestant on Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. Victoria and her dance partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, quickly became fan favorites.
Victoria’s book titled Locked In hit stores worldwide in August of 2018. That year, she also became the face of Jockey, and in July of 2019, Victoria was announced as the new host of America Ninja Warrior jr, Season 2, which aired in February 2020.
Victoria's inspiring story of recovery fully embraces turning life's challenges into fuel for extraordinary accomplishments.