DYKEN
TRADE SHOW
6-Time Olympic Gold Medalist ' s Will to Win
Since childhood , Amy Van Dyken ’ s mantra has been “ Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do ?” A six-time Olympic gold medal winner , she was already a role model for underdogs everywhere with her debilitating asthma that had her dragged from the pool during several practices and her potentially career-ending shoulder surgeries that occurred between her first and second Olympics .
Following a doctor ' s advice , Van Dyken began swimming at the age of six in an effort to relieve her asthma and developed a strong “ will to win ” that made her a star in the ‘ 96 Games , despite competing with about 65 % of normal lung capacity . After the games in Atlanta , Van Dyken went on to win two more medals in Sydney , Australia in 2000 , earning the distinction of being one of the few Olympians whose medals are all gold . She was the only American swimmer to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2007 and was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008 .
But it was her life-threatening spinal cord injury in an ATV accident in 2014 , that put her perseverance to the test . With little hope of surviving , and none that she would ever walk again , Amy did survive , and she did walk again . “ I ’ m alive because I ’ m an athlete ,” she said , following her accident . However , it was her “ will to win ” that saved her life . The same attitude that kept her motivated as she struggled to swim a single lap of the pool , set records , and win the world championships , was the very same attitude required after the accident .
At the AAMD Education Conference & Trade Show , Amy will discuss the need for relentless motivation and overcoming the limits and restraints others put on you – whether it be a coach , a friend , an adversary , yourself , or even your own body . She will speak plainly on both the physical and emotional obstacles that she has endured , as well as the emotional coming to terms with her new life and learning to embrace it .
In addition to her Olympic accomplishments , Van Dyken won several world titles and set numerous American and world records . Her success in swimming made her an instant celebrity and earned her many awards and accolades , including her feature on a Wheaties cereal box and in the popular “ Got Milk ” ad campaign . She was named an Associated Press “ Female Athlete of the Year ,” an ESPN “ ESPY Female Athlete of the Year ,” and one of the “ 25 Most Influential Females in Sport ” by Women ' s Sports and Fitness magazine .
Following her retirement from swimming in 2000 , Van Dyken has been a disc jockey on a sports radio show , served as the sideline reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos football teams , and played in the award-winning stage-play The Vagina Monologues . Her non-profit , the Amy Van Dyken Foundation , improves the lives of people with spinal cord injuries with initiatives such as wheels for kids and providing the latest news in spinal cord injury research .
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
SEE AMY VAN DYKEN WITH AN ALL-ACCESS PASS TO THE AAMD EDUCATION CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW . REGISTER AT WWW . AAMDHQ . ORG
www . aamdhq . org FEBRUARY 2024 TRENDS | 17