Big Think I was paralyzed at 17. I won gold seven years later. | Alana Nichols
Nov 19, 2025
Alana Nichols, a five-time Paralympian and the first American woman to claim gold in both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, shares her inspiring journey after a snowboarding accident left her paralyzed at 17. She discusses how adaptive sports transformed her life, reshaping her identity and understanding of strength. Alana emphasizes the power of resilience, revealing how her path to Paralympic gold was not just about athletic success, but also about redefining capability and worth in the face of adversity.
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Paralyzing Snowboard Crash
- At 17, Alana Nichols attempted a backflip and severely injured her spinal cord, losing feeling from the waist down.
- Doctors told her she would probably never walk or ski again.
Relentless Work Ethic As Recovery Engine
- Her athletic identity taught her that hard work could overcome barriers and shaped her early recovery.
- She used that belief to rebuild functional skills like sitting, dressing, and pushing a wheelchair.
Raw Despair After Injury
- After the injury Alana felt alone, misunderstood, and said she didn't want to live.
- She describes her athletic self as caged and deeply grieved the loss of identity.