When swimmer Ali Truwit returned to the water after a shark attack that resulted in the loss of her leg, the sound of water rippling in the pool brought back vivid memories of that traumatic day. "It was really, really hard," she said in an interview. "Physically, the water's temperature sent shocks through my leg, which had been recently amputated and was full of new nerve endings. Emotionally, the sound of water triggered flashbacks to the attack." However, she also found moments of peace and joy in the water, which motivated her to reconnect with her love for swimming.

Just 16 months after the life-altering incident, Truwit achieved a remarkable feat by winning two silver medals at the Paralympics in Paris, in the women's S10 400-meter freestyle and 100m backstroke events. "It's an indescribable feeling, standing on the shoulders of so many who have supported me," she expressed. Truwit, a former competitive swimmer for Yale University, where she studied cognitive science and economics, was on vacation with her teammate Sophie Pilkinton in the Turks and Caicos Islands when the attack occurred.

"It was a terrifying day, one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," Truwit recalled. "But now, I focus on the strength Sophie and I showed, and I'm grateful for her composure, medical knowledge, and selflessness that saved my life." They managed to fight off the shark, swim back to their boat, and apply a tourniquet to control the bleeding before Truwit was airlifted to a hospital. There, she underwent three surgeries, culminating in the amputation of her left leg below the knee on her 23rd birthday.

"I had flashbacks and nightmares, but my mom was there to help me through them," she shared. "Learning to face fear and realizing that I could have a flashback and still be okay was crucial." Within a month of the attack, Noelle Lambert, an American Paralympic track and field athlete, contacted Truwit, planting the idea of competing in the Paralympic Games.

"It started with a desire to regain my love for water and exercise, and then it turned into a 'what if' scenario," Truwit explained. "Having a 'what if' that was exciting and hopeful amidst so much sadness was refreshing." In Paris, as she competed for her medals, her family, coach, and friends, including those who had saved her life, were in the stands cheering her on.

"To my lifesavers, heroes, sisters, and best friends—the most selfless, incredible, caring, strong, and inspiring people I'll ever know," Truwit wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the friends she credits with saving her life.