Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Van Dyken Severed Spine in Freak ATV Accident
June 10, 2014
Taken from Amy’s Twitter Page
Six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken (Rouen) severed her spine in a freak all-terrain vehicle accident over the weekend, and told emergency workers she could not move her toes or feel anything touching her legs.
The 46-year-old swimmer, was with her husband, former Denver Broncos punter Tom Rouen, who told police officers he had changed the throttle mechanism on the ATV from a thumb accelerator to a twist accelerator a few days before the accident, though wasn’t sure if it was a factor in the accident Friday. She was airlifted from Show Low to a Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center and had surgery to stabilize her spine. It’s reported they weren’t drinking and were not wearing helmuts.
Not only was Amy an accomplished Olympian many in the Phoenix market remember her from the morning radio show she had with Chris Parker on KPKX (THE PEAK) and most recently FOX SPORTS RADIO. Scottsdale is a small big town and I had the privilege of meeting Amy and her husband one evening several years ago at a mutual friend’s house. We quickly identified we had many mutual friends and she had funny an entertaining stories about each. I also quickly identified that she was an amazing woman with strong drive and resolve which will see her through the toughest of times. If anyone can come do the impossible I have no doubt it’s Amy Van Dyken Rouen.