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 Victoria 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. Victoria 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. Not ready to give up Victoria decided that 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.

That bucket list included things like — Co-founding the Victoria’s Victory Foundation with her Mother Jacqueline that assists those with mobility related disabilities. Since 2017, VVF over a million dollars in scholarship funds to those who need it most.

Setting world records at the age of 17 as a swimmer for Team USA — Winning a gold and three silver medals at the London 2012 Games.

Transitioning from professional athlete to sportscaster and joining ESPN at the age of 20 – while becoming one of the youngest on air talents ever hired by the company. Her TV career has expanded across multiple platforms and networks including hosting American Ninja Warrior jr. on NBC/Peacock

Spending a decade in a wheelchair — then defying all odds and not only learning to walk again but one year later she competed on Dancing with the Stars and placed in the Top 5.

Writing a book sharing her story titled Locked In which hit stores in 2018 and her second book The View is Worth It will hit stores in May 2026.

Amongst all of this Victoria has spoken on stages all over the world becoming a sought after motivational speaker. Simply living by this motto that helped her fight back to live:

“Face It, Embrace It, Defy It, Conquer It“ ™