24 May, 2023, is a date that will live rent-free in Ali Truwit’s mind. Or at least, until he scared the ghosts out of his head. On that day, in the idyllic beaches of the archipelago of 40 islands with coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean, what was meant to be a day of relaxation and joy turned into a nightmare when a shark attacked her, biting into her left leg.

With blood flowing and the predator lurking, Truwit, a former competitive swimmer, switched to survival mode, draining every ounce of adrenaline she had. She swam 75metres to reach the safety of the boat—a feat that likely saved her life—.

After the horrific ordeal, the young woman from Connecticut was rushed to a hospital in Miami, where she underwent two surgeries to fight infections. Later, she was transferred to New York, where, on her 23rd birthday, her leg was amputated below the knee. Despite the severity of the situation, Ali refused to let adversity defeat her. "I had a lot of dark days," she confessed to the Associated Press. "But I'm alive, and I almost wasn’t."

With the help of her swimming and diving teammates from Yale, her family, her community, and her childhood coach, she went from swimming for survival to finding her way back to the water just a few months later. Thus, her life took an unexpected turn. The Truwit family has always believed in the power of hard work, a mantra that Ali embraced during her rehabilitation process.

Despite the pain and sorrow she fought with all her might, she kept pushing forward, facing her new reality with courage and determination. She decided not to question why this had happened to her but instead focused on asking, "Why not throw myself entirely into something new?" That "something" became her dream of competing in the Paralympic Games. And now, she can proudly check that dream off her list.

Barely three and a half months after the attack, Ali donned her swim cap and swimsuit once again. As she immersed herself in the water, the traumatic memories began to fade, and the physical pain eased. With the support of her coach, Jamie Barone, and a team of specialists, she prepared for the Paralympic trials, where she excelled in the 100-metre freestyle, 400-metre freestyle, and 100-metre backstroke, earning her golden ticket to Paris 2024.

The road to the French capital was anything but easy, but Ali Truwit proved herself to be an unstoppable warrior. Her mother, Jody, described her as "a workhorse who refuses to give up." That resilience led her to shine in international competitions, and in April, in Portugal, she qualified in the 400-metre freestyle S10 category, showing the world that even after a devastating attack, greatness can be embraced.

Now, supported by a multitude of family and friends, Ali prepares to compete in the Paris Games. "Hearing my name on that team was a reminder that I'm stronger than I think," Truwit declared. She has also launched the "Stronger Than You Think" foundation to help others through their healing process.

In Paris, Ali will not only be vying for medals for Team USA but will also celebrate her triumphant return to the water—a personal victory that, for her, may be the most important of all. "A year ago, I was struggling to get back into the water," she reflected. "Now, that feeling of joy has returned, and with it, my smile. Having that back is something I'm so grateful for. It’s one of the moments in my swimming career that I'm most proud of because I know how much work it took to get here," the young athlete concluded in her interview with the AP, eager for success in France.