Paralympian Ali Truwit Hosting Swim-A-Thon on May 10
Paralympic medalist Ali Truwit is hosting a Swim-A-Thon on May 10 as part of Water Safety Awareness Month. The event, at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, Conn., will raise money for her charity, Stronger Than You Think.
She’s gotten support from a number of prominent swimmers, including friends Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh and Summer Sanders, as well as fellow Paralympians. Among those committed to the project is the Darien High School swim team in Connecticut, among other groups in the tri-state area.
Truwit envisions this as an annual event. Even if unable to take part in person, you can sponsor those swimming and donate based on laps competed through Stronger Than You Think’s website.
May marks the two-year anniversary of Truwit being the victim of a shark attack. Two days before graduating from Yale University, while on vacation in Turks and Caicos, Truwit had her left foot and lower leg bitten off. Friends and first responders helped her swim to safety, saving her life. On her 23rd birthday, she underwent an amputation below the knee.
Truwit, who swam at Yale, has returned to the water. At her first Paralympics, she won silver medals in the S10 400 freestyle and S10 100 backstroke. She’s taking 2025 off from competition as she adjusts to life with her limb difference, but the 24-year-old has an eye toward competing again.
In the meantime, Truwit is focusing on the foundation she created. Stronger Than You Think has a triple goal of expanding access to prosthetics (especially for women and girls), promoting water safety and supporting the Paralympic movement. Proceeds from the Swim-A-Thon will go towards efforts. As a way to honor the friends, family and healthcare personnel that have helped on her journey, Truwit is theming the first Swim-A-Thon to encourage participants to come dressed as their heroes.
“This month, two years ago, my swimming saved my life,” said in a social media video introducing the Swim-A-Thon. “And this month this year, our swimming could save so many other lives.”
More details can be found on Stronger Than You Think’s social media or the Swim-A-Thon’s dedicated link.
