Victoria Arlen is alive, working, and remains a public figure; the question “what happened” usually refers to her childhood illness and later health relapses. She is currently active as an ESPN host, speaker, author, and founder of a nonprofit that supports people with mobility challenges.
Childhood illness
At age 11, Arlen suddenly developed two rare inflammatory neurological conditions, transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which caused severe brain and spinal cord inflammation. Within months she lost the ability to speak, eat, walk, or move and spent several years in a locked‑in, vegetative‑like state, fully aware but unable to communicate, with doctors doubting she would survive or recover.
Recovery and Paralympics
After nearly four years, she slowly began to regain basic functions, relearning how to speak, eat, and move. She took up para‑swimming and went on to the 2012 London Paralympics, where she won gold and set a world record in the 100‑meter freestyle S6 and earned additional medals before classification issues ended her Paralympic career.
Media and entertainment career
In her early 20s, Arlen became one of ESPN’s youngest on‑air personalities and has since hosted shows such as SportsCenter and other live events. She has also appeared on entertainment programs like Dancing With the Stars and co‑hosted American Ninja Warrior Junior, using those platforms to share her story.
Later relapses and current status
Years after learning to walk again through intensive rehab, Arlen experienced relapses of transverse myelitis, including a major episode in 2022 and another reported health scare while working on ESPN, which briefly affected her ability to move and speak. Rapid treatment with high‑dose steroids and rehab prevented permanent paralysis, and although she continues to live with nerve pain and some lingering symptoms, she has returned to hosting, public speaking, and an active lifestyle.
Advocacy and foundation work
Arlen founded Victoria’s Victory Foundation, which provides grants and support to people with mobility challenges, reflecting her focus on independence and adaptive recovery. She also writes, gives motivational talks, and serves as an ambassador for disability and inclusion initiatives, describing her life after relapse as a “second chance” that she is determined to use to help others.
