Victoria Arlen

Victoria Arlen’s life drastically changed in 2006 at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. This was an incredibly rare scenario, and Arlen quickly lost the ability to speak, eat, walk, and move. She slipped into a vegetative state in which doctors had written her off as a lost cause. Arlen spent nearly four years "locked” inside her own body, completely aware of what was going on, just unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope of survival and recovery was unlikely. Arlen, however, was not ready to give up. Instead of writing her obituary, she wrote a bucket list of the things she would achieve when she survived. In 2010, after almost four years, she began the nearly impossible fight back to life. Learning how to speak, eat, and move all over again while checking things off her bucket list.

Arlen went on to defy the odds exceedingly and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished motivational speaker, television host, philanthropist, writer, and swimmer. Her swimming resume includes three silver medals and a gold medal from the London 2012 Games, as well as multiple World, American, and Pan American Records.

In April 2015, Arlen transitioned from professional athlete to sportscaster and joined ESPN at the age of twenty, becoming one of the youngest on-air talents hired by the company. She reports and hosts across all platforms, including Sportscenter, First Take, X Games, Sportsnation, Sportscenter on Snapchat, Sportscenter Global, Frozen Four, Special Olympics, and more.

In the Spring of 2016, Arlen defied yet another odd. After spending a decade in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down, she was able to learn how to take one step after another. Eventually, not only did she learn how to walk, but within a year and a half, in the Fall of 2017, she learned to dance as a contestant on Season 25 of "Dancing with the Stars," placing in the top five.

Arlen is also the Founder and co-chair of Arlen's Victory Foundation, a nonprofit that assists those with mobility-related disabilities. Since 2017, VVF has provided half a million dollars in scholarship funds to those who need them most.

Arlen's book, "Locked In," hit stores worldwide in August 2018, as did her ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, which she narrated and produced. Arlen continues to share her story on various speaking tours throughout the world. In July 2019, Arlen was announced as the new host of "America Ninja Warrior Jr.," which premiered September 2021 on NBC and Peacock.

Arlen has lived by this motto since the day she fought back to live: "Face It, Embrace It, Defy It, Conquer It."