--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While paralyzed, I won a gold and three…" description: "\"While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.\" — Victoria Arlen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg" --- # While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a… ![“While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.” quote by Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg) > “While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.” [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She achieved top athletic success despite severe physical limitation, showing resilience and determination **In simple terms:** Overcoming disability to win medals Key Takeaway Resilience triumphs over adversity Themes determination achievement disability sports Mood inspiring triumphant Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - Paralympic competition - rehabilitation programs - motivational speaking Key Concepts Resilience adaptive training mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain motivation when facing physical limits? - What role does community play in overcoming adversity? A Different Perspective Success requires support systems and adaptive technology ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Swimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimmer/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up a competitive swimmer. I wanted to go the Olympics. Both my parents were professional swimmers. I competed internationally quite often, right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-simpson/i-grew-up-a-competitive-swimmer-i-wanted-to-go-the-olympics-both-my/) [Cody Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-simpson/) > [I was a competitive swimmer in middle school and high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-mcphee/i-was-a-competitive-swimmer-in-middle-school-and-high-school/) [Katharine McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-mcphee/) > [Hey Mark Henry, where are your gold medals? We all know that if Mark Henry won a gold medal he'd just take it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lawler/hey-mark-henry-where-are-your-gold-medals-we-all-know-that-if-mark/) [Jerry Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lawler/) > [I was blessed with a long career where I won gold medals for myself and my country. Nothing stands out as a disappointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/i-was-blessed-with-a-long-career-where-i-won-gold-medals-for-myself/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I'm extremely content with my silver and bronze medals. But once I won the gold, I fell in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-bowie/i-m-extremely-content-with-my-silver-and-bronze-medals-but-once-i-won/) [Tori Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-bowie/) > [“Back when I was a competitive swimmer, I used to dream of going to the Olympics. But then I changed my mind, once I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/back-when-i-was-a-competitive-swimmer-i-used-to-dream-of-going-to-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/winning-gold-and-three-silver-medals-at-the-paralympic-games-is/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I grew up a swimmer. I didn't think I could swim without the use of my legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-grew-up-a-swimmer-i-didn-t-think-i-could-swim-without-the-use-of-my/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/my-hope-is-to-be-the-first-disabled-swimmer-on-an-able-bodied-team-at/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was told it couldn't be done. My dream was impossible. But on March 3, 2016, after spending 10 years in a wheelchair paralyzed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-told-it-couldn-t-be-done-my-dream-was-impossible-but-on-march-3/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [It started off with flu-like symptoms and pain; then, I started feeling really funny. In two weeks, I was paralyzed from the waist down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/it-started-off-with-flu-like-symptoms-and-pain-then-i-started-feeling/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I just won the gold medal and I couldn't eat downtown. I said, 'Something's wrong.' And from then on, I've been a Muslim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-just-won-the-gold-medal-and-i-couldn-t-eat-downtown-i-said/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/in-one-sense-we-are-a-favorite-because-we-won-a-gold-medal-in-2002/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [If I won another gold medal in 2012, in my home city, imagine that. To be the face of 2012, that'd be unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/if-i-won-another-gold-medal-in-2012-in-my-home-city-imagine-that-to/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [I can't believe that I just won a gold medal. I think it will take a bit to sink in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/i-can-t-believe-that-i-just-won-a-gold-medal-i-think-it-will-take-a/) [Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/) ## More by Victoria Arlen > [There's always going to be something positive that can come out of any negative situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/there-s-always-going-to-be-something-positive-that-can-come-out-of/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [When you have a spinal or brain injury, or any kind of devastating illness, you kind of fall through the cracks in a sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/when-you-have-a-spinal-or-brain-injury-or-any-kind-of-devastating/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/being-competitive-is-in-my-nature-i-actually-think-being-competitive/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I want the other Victorias out there, the people that are suffering or going through something, to keep fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-want-the-other-victorias-out-there-the-people-that-are-suffering-or/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [When I was really sick, I loved watching 'Dancing With the Stars.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/when-i-was-really-sick-i-loved-watching-dancing-with-the-stars/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I'm a firm believer that every morning brings a new opportunity for me to conquer the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-every-morning-brings-a-new-opportunity-for/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > ['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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/good-life-was-my-gold-medal-song-and-is-what-i-sing-when-i-need-to/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [We're a huge hockey family. I took to it really quickly, and I was in love with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/we-re-a-huge-hockey-family-i-took-to-it-really-quickly-and-i-was-in/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I come from a family of go-getters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-come-from-a-family-of-go-getters/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I know from my experience as a swimmer that you put in the work and practice, and come game day, your body is ready,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-know-from-my-experience-as-a-swimmer-that-you-put-in-the-work-and/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/my-hope-is-to-be-the-first-disabled-swimmer-on-an-able-bodied-team-at/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was told it couldn't be done. My dream was impossible. But on March 3, 2016, after spending 10 years in a wheelchair paralyzed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-told-it-couldn-t-be-done-my-dream-was-impossible-but-on-march-3/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/each-of-us-can-provide-a-positive-example-to-others-in-our-lives-and/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [I was written off as a lost cause. But I'm living proof that miracles can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/i-was-written-off-as-a-lost-cause-but-i-m-living-proof-that-miracles/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) > [We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them, and conquer them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/we-all-have-challenges-we-have-to-face-them-embrace-them-defy-them/) [Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) [Explore all 59 Victoria Arlen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/) ## More Gold quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [Set the bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in thesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/set-the-bird-s-wings-with-gold-and-it-will-never-again-soar-in-thesky/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [Just as the setting sun turned the clouds to liquid gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/just-as-the-setting-sun-turned-the-clouds-to-liquid-gold/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The spectacle of a great, solvent government paying a fictitious price for gold it did not want and did not need and doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garet-garrett/the-spectacle-of-a-great-solvent-government-paying-a-fictitious-price/) [Garet Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garet-garrett/) > [Nothing good comes on a platter of gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-good-comes-on-a-platter-of-gold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) > [All metallics are neutrals. So it is absolutely fine to mix gold and silver; you just want it to look like it has purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/all-metallics-are-neutrals-so-it-is-absolutely-fine-to-mix-gold-and/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Browse all 3,806 Gold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victoria Arlen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-silver-medals-as-a-competitive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gold" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-silver-medals-as-a-competitive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/victoria-arlen-11467_gold_while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-s_2241847.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While paralyzed, I won a gold and three silver medals as a competitive swimmer.” — Victoria Arlen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Victoria Arlen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "While paralyzed, I won a gold...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-silver-medals-as-a-competitive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/while-paralyzed-i-won-a-gold-and-three-silver-medals-as-a-competitive/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```