U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation News

Paying It Forward: Ali Truwit Champions Team USA Paralympic Swimming

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When Ali Truwit dove into the pool at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the world saw a powerhouse. An athlete whose performance broke the American record in the 100-meter backstroke and the 400-meter freestyle S10 events. A swimmer at the pinnacle of her sport.

But behind the medals, behind the swimming cap and goggles, was a story of survival that began a year prior—and a realization that the journey to representing Team USA is one that many athletes can’t afford to take alone.

(Photo by @calderwood.photography)

Stronger Than You Think

Just over a year after competing on the world stage, in her first Paralympic Games, Ali has committed to giving back to the program that welcomed her after tragedy.

A gift to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) through her Stronger Than You Think Foundation, will provide financial awards to U.S. Paralympic swimmers who place first through third or set world records at designated competitions. The Stronger Than You Think Performance Incentive Fund will give out its inaugural awards beginning with the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships, followed by a to-be-named World Series meet in both the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

In her eyes, after seeing and feeling the financial strain of being a full-time athlete, giving back was always top of mind.

“Roughly 57% of Team USA athletes make under $50,000 a year,” Ali said. “I experienced firsthand the financial demands of being a pro athlete: the costs of training, strength work, recovery, physical therapy, nutrition, everything.

“Joining the Paralympic Movement was one of the most healing things I did for my recovery after the amputation. The support I received was game-changing, and I knew early on that I wanted to pay it back as soon as I could.”

Through Stronger Than You Think, Ali focuses on water safety and access to prosthetics for women and girls, as well as support for the Paralympic movement, all areas with which she has personal experience.

Her goal for this donation? Assist paralympic swimmers now, with Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, and grow the number of competitions where the awards will be offered.

“When I look at Olympic swimming and see the checks the swimmers get to hold when they win events at various world competitions, I want that for Para athletes too,” she shared.

“Providing financial reward to U.S. Paralympic athletes adds legitimacy, and drives support and excitement around athletes, helping to drive awareness and momentum for the overall Paralympic Movement too.”


Resilience in the Wake of Trauma

On May 24, 2023, 10 days after she ran a marathon on Mother’s Day with her mom and three days after she graduated from Yale, Ali’s life changed forever.

While snorkeling in Turks and Caicos, celebrating with her friend Sophie Pilkinton, a shark bit Ali’s lower left leg. A medevac flew her to Miami, where she received two life-saving surgeries. A week later, she underwent a partial leg amputation in New York.

Amidst such a traumatic event, she remained focused on the good things in life.

“When I was faced with a life-changing trauma, I worked to see the positive and focus on gratitude and let that carry me,” she said in an interview after Paris 2024.

(Photo by @calderwood.photography)

The resilience and determination she developed from her days with the Chelsea Piers Swim Team and Yale Women’s Swimming & Diving team set her on a path to shine, no matter how dark the moment. The year that followed was defined by a choice: to focus on what was lost or to lean into what remained.

Ali chose the latter.

Six weeks after the attack, she found herself back in the place that gave her peace: the pool.

“It was by no means real swimming,” Ali said. “It was mostly just trying to get comfortable in the water again.”


A Second Chance

One session after another, she started to find her stride in the pool and the itch to compete came back stronger than ever. Nerves, fear, flashbacks—everything started to subside the more she worked at understanding this change.

“Can I still compete?” was the lone question that remained.

In late September, she did just that. To the surprise of her parents, Ali asked if they could take her to a Paralympic swim meet, only three and a half months removed from losing her foot and part of her leg.

There, a Paralympic swimmer emerged. No matter the result, nor where she finished, swimming competitively was a massive step in her journey.

But first place never felt so good. At Paralympic Trials just nine months later, she finished the 100-meter backstroke in 1:08:98, a new personal best, topping her previous best time of 1:09:50 before the attack. It was the moment Ali realized that her limits were far beyond what she—or anyone else—imagined.

“I think I’ve come into this with a new perspective of really knowing that I’m stronger than I think and that I have more in me than I thought,” she said.

With her sights set on the next goal, Ali began a meteoric rise to the world stage. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she delivered a performance for the ages. Ali captured two silver medals and shattered two American records (in the 100-meter backstroke S10 and the 400-meter freestyle S10).

Her story is that of many Paralympians: one of immense resilience and overcoming countless obstacles.

While Ali’s journey involved a high-profile recovery, she quickly realized that for many of her teammates, the biggest obstacle to the podium wasn’t physical—it was financial.

“I view the Stronger Than You Think Performance Incentive Fund as step one in this initiative,” she said. “I see huge potential for its impact both on the athletes and their performance at events throughout the year, and for the Paralympic movement as a whole. My biggest hope is that this spreads to other Para sports too.”

For more information about the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation and Ali’s Stronger Than You Think Foundation, visit give.teamusa.org and strongerthanyouthink.org.